AU: God, I bet I know what you're all thinking, god, this is going to be so
rubbish, I hate it when authors add new characters to books, cartoons etc
etc, but please give this fic a chance. I mean, I thought you'd all think
that way, but my friends all thought it was good, and kept on pestering me
until I posted it. Be gentle with your reviews, my first TDIR fic. . . (",)
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A young girl, perhaps around the age of 14, with shoulder length dark brown hair, lay unconscious on the smooth sand that lay glistening under the sun by the shores of the river dyfi. "Argh." She moaned softly. She attempted weakly to lift her arm to massage her aching temples, but failing to do so, didn't even bother to open her sore eyes. How long had it been since she had any got decent sleep? "Grace. . . Grace? Please wake up. At least try to open your eyes. What on earth has happened to you?" Pondered a deep old mans voice. It was like gentle music compared to the dull ringing in her ears that just wouldn't go away. She tried once more to open her eyes. She moaned once more. "I. . . I can't." She managed to choke out. Her voice was hoarse and dry, like she hadn't spoken to anyone in days. Suddenly, before she knew what was happened, was lifted up of the sand by strong, yet gentle arms. "Where are you taking me?" She asked wearily. She didn't even seem to be properly awake. "Sshhh. . . don't waste your energy." She began tugging persistently at his shirt. "We are journeying somewhere far from here, where the dark may not reach us."
There was silence. . . and then something from long, long ago came into her mind.
The dark, the dark will come rising. . .
The girl's eyes suddenly snapped open. The old man glanced down at her. He was wearing a long dark blue cloak, and his hood prevented her from seeing what colour his hair was, and the shadows made by it prevented her from seeing what his expression was exactly. He stopped, and laid her down gently as though she was a China doll that would brake at the slightest impact. She glanced behind her, and saw as though surrounded by mist, huge wooden doors. And in a flash, disappeared. "You are awake." He said in relief. She didn't reply, but instead stared at him, pleading him to talk more about The Dark. . . although something inside her thought that it could be dangerous discussing such matters. As if on cue he replied. "You need not worry about the Dark, for now, when you have. . . will come into your power, no-one of the Dark shall be able to hurt you. You are too innocent. . . and of course, powerful." He added as an after-thought. She glanced down at the surface she was sitting on. Grass. She looked around her, trying to take in and memorise every beautiful detail in the place that surrounded her. It was a vast field surrounded by trees around the far edges of it, encircling them, and a single tree stood alone, yet immense, and importantly in the middle. Almost as if challenging anyone that dared to go near it. "I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about sir. My pitiful existence has always been meaningless and painful. . . but I feel I have no right to question you, but one thing, where are we, and what happened to me?" She asked " What happened to you, even I do not know. But I am guessing that on your way here, through time, the dark tried to intercept your arrival. But you, even with your immature, not yet properly tuned abilities, managed to somehow defeat them. . . You have so much power and potential. Even you have no idea what you are capable of. But I and the old ones will teach you all you need to know, if we can, for I don't even know what will happen now." He paused, turned slightly around and lifted his right arm, as though embracing the beautiful field of green. " You are in a place where no-one may harm you. where the dark will diminish, and the light shall conquer." "The Light? I know. . . the Light. . . a dream perhaps, but so real. . . I have met an old one before. . . " He gazed at her, his dark eyes twinkling in the shadows of his hood. "Indeed you have." "But I don't even know what, or who an 'Old One is. . . " The man sighed. "So many questions, such little time. But I may as well start from somewhere. . . I haven't even told you my name. . . I am Merriman Lyon. I am a friend, and I am at the service of the Light. It's what I was born to do. But you must also believe. Without belief and trust, you can not possibly reach your highest potential. You would be pushing away all our help." She paused slightly before answering. "Merriman. . . such an unusual name. . . but sir, who am I supposed to represent? Are you gong to keep me here as a hostage because I am perhaps of the Dark?" Merriman chuckled heartily. "Call me Merriman. And if you remember, I said that you would come to power here, and that you were too innocent for any harm to be done to you. Why would I help a servant of the Dark come to power? You must remember everything an old one says, it will help you perhaps now, or even making a decision in the future, it could also help you on a quest. Remember Grace, You have not much time to learn our ways, therefore I am hoping you have an excellent memory." She nodded positively. There seemed to a different kind of sparkle in her eyes now. Now that she was no longer afraid, and knew she could trust him, lowered her guard. Like he had said, nothing could harm her here. "You need to be strong Grace. For the things I'm about to tell you, you will find hard to accept. But I beg of you to trust me. For we have no time to waste on you being suspicious. I'm sorry no-one could tell you these things, someone closer to you then I, but The Lady ordered me to make haste." "I understand. I will be strong. I will not fail the Light and my Lady. . . " Merriman's eyes twinkled excitedly. "You're remembering! Oh this is wonderful. I have made the right decision in bringing you to this magical place after-all. The Lady thought it was unnecessary, but we shall see. . . " Grace remained silent, still utterly confused. "Come closer, my child. We shall see how much you will remember, and how much is stored in that mind of yours." Grace stepped forward a few steps facing Merriman. He raised his long arms and put his slender fingers gently around Graces' fragile head. "Clear your mind. Think of nothing for now. . . leave your mind utterly blank." He paused, and the grip around Grace's head tightened a little. "The barrier in your mind. . . it is so strong. . . relax Grace." Grace dropped to her knees suddenly, pulling Merriman down with her. Merriman opened his eyes a fraction trying hard not to brake his concentration. . . but his heart nearly stopped at the sight he saw. He almost expected her to be dead. Suddenly Graces' body went limp and rested on Merriman. Merriman still kept his hand on Grace's head. "Grace? What are you doing? I still can't get into your mind. . . Grace?" He looked at her once more tentatively.
She's not breathing. . .
He began releasing his grip. He had to help her! What was wrong? 'Don't move you hands, I'm working on it. The only way, I think, I can do this, is if I'm unconscious, but I have to be quick, or I'll go into a coma.' Reluctantly Merriman rested his hands on her head in the same position as before trying to concentrate, with Grace's limp form leaning against him. Feeling only slightly relieved that she at least knew how to use one of her powers. And suddenly saw. . . He saw her past. . . The Lady training her. . . she raised her hand. . .
. . . "Come on now Grace! You can do this. . . I trust you. . . you're
small now but you must use your mind. . . Your last task. . . I know you can complete it successfully." She knew Grace could control her mind, but the poor girl. . . she was so afraid at hurting her. . . she resisted the urge to smile. Knowing how much Grace loved her just made her feel warm inside. . . such innocent and pure love. Uncomplicated unlike everything else in life. Merriman stood motionless staring at Grace, merely a four-year-old and The Lady, looking neither old, nor young. "But I can not mother! How could you expect me to do that to you? I refuse to torture you! You know very well how much this would hurt you." Little Grace replied in a very grown-up voice. so sophisticated- but how? "Please, you must try, This is your final test. There will be no more training after this! Come over here." Grace reluctantly did as she was told. "Close your eyes, and concentrate. You know what you must do, as I have told you many times before. And don't stop no matter what. You will need this technique to survive in the future." She closed her eyes, and both stood there unmoving for a nervous few seconds, and abruptly, the Lady began twitching violently. Merriman could feel her trying to resist Graces' power, but she was too strong. He heard Grace moaning from the hard work. . . but suddenly, something was going wrong. . . there seemed to be like an electrical current between them. "Raise your arm." Ordered Grace, in a voice so cold, it sent a chill down his spine. The Lady did as she was told, without hesitation, almost as though she had been hypnotised. Slowly Grace too raised her arm and touched the Lady's fingertips briefly, muttering a few strange words. . . and then. . . Merriman could do nothing but watch as the bright yellow sparks came out of Grace and began zapping The Lady all over, and suddenly, Grace collapsed onto the floor, followed by the violent twitching of the Lady's frail body. Merriman breathed heavily. He had to keep telling himself that this was the past and he couldn't do anything to change the way things had happened. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like for Grace. She would be re- living this terrible nightmare. The Lady stopped twitching finally and began to regain power of her own body. Her eyes fluttered open. "Argh." She moaned softly and lifted her head- though with difficulty. "Grace? Grace my child, why are you so angry? You did it! You managed to succeed in your final task. . . " Whispered the Lady unsure of how Grace would reply after electrocuting her. Of course it could very well have been a mistake. She could have lost control of what she had been doing whilst trying to control her own. But. . . she didn't think so. She could see how angry Grace was, and it was beginning to frighten her. What could have gone wrong? Grace tried to stand up, but couldn't so instead propped herself upright on a chair near by. "You. . . you lied to me." She said venomously. Hate audible in every syllable. The Lady suddenly seemed fearful. She didn't want to show it at first, but she couldn't control what she was feeling anymore. Perhaps Grace had enchanted her. . . Perhaps. . . "Grace?" Whispered the Lady trying to contemplate what, and how much Grace had found out, about what she was talking about. "I trusted you. I trusted you with everything. . . With my life. . . and I would have served you until the end. . . until now. . . now I know everything. . . I can never do anything under your command- knowing how much you could hurt me. . . how much you have hurt me. And you're not even my mother. . . and you were going to make me forget everything after this test. . . You destroyed me." "Grace, I'm sorry! You just couldn't understand! You're not normal for a girl aged four in the humans' world! I was going to give you the perfect childhood! If I had made you forget, then you would still have remembered all your training if there came a time you needed it, and would act like a normal human child, and had a family to take care of you in the perfect environment. The kind of place a child would want to be in. To have fun in, and not take tests to make her stronger! Its too much responsibility." She said with such a loving and tender voice, that Merriman had to look away. He hated to see his master so. . . so weak, and emotional. But Grace merely sighed, and turned around to walk out of the large dining room. "I won't let you." She held up her hand, and pointed all her fingers to the ceiling, and immediately a barrier formed between her and the Lady. Assuming that this barrier would deflect any magic. But she failed to see that using magic for love was more powerful than anything in the world was. A mere barrier cast by a four-year-old couldn't deflect The Lady's magic solely the consequence if her love for Grace. "Please. . . why couldn't you have just let me be? Everything would have been so much easier. . ." The Lady sighed softly. She may not be at the full height of her magical powers, but she could do what she needed to do. She would find the energy somewhere. . . because if she didn't, if she failed her duties, then Arthur would be so mad. . . and Graces' childhood would be lost forever. . . she could never go back again. "Forget. . . You must forget. . . It's the way it must be. Your destiny. . . She heard Grace collapse instantly on the floor of the stretching hallway, the life temporarily drained out of her. The Lady stretched out the five fingers of her slim right hand, whispered a few words of the old ones, and Grace gradually disappeared. . . into another time. . . another world. . . another lifetime. The Lady suddenly broke into tears. . .
. . . Merriman removed his hand from Graces' head and gazed at her face
with compassion. Tears streamed down her weary yet still beautiful face, and closed her eyes trying to block away the world that had hurt her so much. Willing herself to forget. . . but knew that she couldn't. . . knew that she wouldn't have the strength to do such a thing. . . but also, didn't have the strength to go on. All the memories came flooding back into her mind. . . the training. . . the Lady. . . the Old Ones. . . her first encounter with Merriman when she was three. And her father. . . she sighed. Instead of the memories coming back slowly into her mind, brief snapshots of time, it all came back cascading into her mind. . . like they had been waiting for so long for her to remember. But she didn't want to! The Lady was right. She was so much happier when she hadn't known at all. Even though her adopted parents were now dead. And how long she had been searching for her real parents. But knowing, finally, who they were now. . . didn't make the situation any better. If anything, it made it worse, knowing that she couldn't be with them. They were left in another time. Another era. . . "Grace. . . now you know. . . I didn't even have any idea of this. . . I was just, told to wake your sleeping mind. The Lady never told me. But. . . now you know. . . And you must-" Stuttered Merriman, unable to think of anything suitable to say in a situation like this. He felt a little nervous talking to Grace, he tried to find the write words to say to her without hurting her feelings. It was almost like he was talking to his master again. "- I must save the world from the Dark. . ." "Well, you will have quite some part in it actually. . . not directly, but without you, the world would be doomed into darkness. But, also, you can not learn any more, apart from what you will learn from your journeys and quests in the future. . . I had no idea about your training. Only you can train yourself from now on, for you are not an old one, with the powers that we possess. . . therefore we can no longer teach you, after all. You have to be strong and. . . responsible. I know this is all too much to ask of you. . . but the cause. . . the cause you would be fighting for. . . think about it. You may also choose not to accept to help the Light. But you will not forget you past. . . you won't forget all that has happened now, and in the past. . . or who your parents are. . . "He added quietly. "How long do I have to decide?" She asked quickly. "As long as you need, I will be here with you, in this time, this dimension. . . if you need to ask any questions. . . or anything, I'll be here." "I don't need any time." She replied almost coldly. "I have already made up my mind. I know what I must do. I can not just learn about this and not do anything. Besides, I would be a shame to my family wouldn't I?" A hint of a smile crept up on her rosy lips. "I have known what I must do ever since I was little, that's what I was trained for, wasn't it? "This technique will help you in the future. . . " Besides, my adopted parents are dead, I have no family. . . well. . . that I knew of before I found out all of this.and all my friends. . . I have no real friends. They were all fake. Every smile meant that they wanted something, every tear meant they wanted attention. . . nothing was real. This is real. This is what I must do. The real world. I must stop living in the past. Wishing my adopted parents to still be here with me, to support me as they used to. They won't come back. " "Grace, you cannot blame the past. . . the past is what made you into what you are. The honest, innocent, and powerful young lady you have become. Don't be afraid of it. There's nothing wrong with mourning the death of your parents. there's nothing wrong in loving. For loving is what makes you, you. Love is the one thing in the world you need to trust. That is the one thing that is true. The one thing you can trust. You need not surround your heart in a stone wall. Being able to deal with your past will make you stronger." Her face was impassive. "This is my destiny. What is meant to be. I have no choice really. . . it was all planned for me in the first place. . . when I would cry. . . when the ones I loved would die. . . If I could ever learn to love again. . ." She sighed. "My brother. Does he know who his father is? Does he know about me?" "Well. . . he knows who his father is. but he doesn't know about you. I'm afraid many people don't know about you, accept the high magic. They will try and protect you through your quests. They will not help you, but if your life is in danger, then we will be there. . . accept at the very end." "The very end. . . I will die soon then?" She asked. She sounded almost relieved that all the pain and suffering in her life would come to an end at some point. At least she wouldn't live forever like an old one. "There is no need to think about this Grace. No need to reflect on such morbid things. Please, free your mind of all sorrow. That is the future. . . you can't do anything about what will happen. You just have to deal with it as it comes." Grace remained silent. "Come, let's go back into your brothers time." "Wait. . . um. . . does my father know about me?" She asked in a barely audible whisper. "He does, yes. When you first starting training when you were 13 months old, your father sensed you somehow. . . it's just a bond he has with his children. and then, eventually, he found out you were his daughter. He tried to take you away from the Lady, because he knew she was training you for the purpose of saving one of the six, so they would be successful in banishing the dark. He knew all of it. . . but he didn't want you to suffer so badly. He wanted someone else to be given this task. . . A girl. . . a poor innocent child, being put through such torment. His daughter being put through so much torment. He almost went insane. He couldn't have his son by him either, and not being able to have his daughter just. . . just made him mad. . . madder than anyone had ever seen him in his whole life." Tears filled up in her eyes at the painful truth. She was alone. So completely alone. No one knew her. . . know-one knew what she was like what she liked eating in the morning, the kind of clothes she liked wearing. . . the kind of music she liked. . . all the little things. It was like starting a completely different life. Suddenly she broke into a fit of sobs, and rested her head on her knees. And there wasn't even any hope of her going back to her father either. No hope, to change what was already planned. . . no hope. Merriman walked over to her, and gently rubbed her back in support. "It's okay Grace. . . these terrible times will come to pass. . ." "How can you say that? It won't be all right! I'm alone! So utterly alone! No one knows me. Who I am, who I was. And my own father didn't even know I existed! How can everything be all right?" "It wasn't his fault. Or your mothers. But you will find out in due course what happened to you. But right now, this is too much for you to take. This is enough for you to know for now." And with that, Merriman wrapped his huge cloak around Grace and they disappeared. . .
. . . A large black crow passed overhead. The sun glistened magically surrounded by a perfect blue sky, its light rays casting yellow streaks on the golden sand. The waves splashed almost furiously onto the sand, beckoning them to dive in and get pulled away into a watery abyss, on account of the strong current. She stared at the gleaming water for a while, and watched calmly as the waves gradually became placid. It was so unreal. How could a child possibly do such things at such an early age? When would she get the answers she was hoping for? Why was everything in the world concerned with the High magic so complicated. . . and magic? What was magic? Her mind thought of wizards and wands automatically. But this magic. . . this magic seamed to be the essence of the old ones' souls'. It came from within them. No wand necessary. All you needed was knowledge and understanding to use this great gift. But what if you didn't understand them at all? What if your magic became wild, and you no longer held the power to tame it, to be used for good, and not for evil? What if she lost all control over her body, and fell under the control of-
Stop Grace. Stop thinking the worst of everything. I realise this is a terrible time for you, but if you keep thinking like that, like you're sick of your life, and wish everything to be over, the dark will find it easier to manipulate your mind. Everything that has happened to you is not a curse, Grace. It's not. I will help you get through this. I am your friend, Grace. Trust me.
She stayed silent for a while. Merriman glanced down at her. So old, yet so familiar in a sense. . . she was like an old one in some ways. For every old one was friends with everyone else. They all held the same knowledge, the same understanding. . . they were all equal. Age and time didn't mean anything to an old one. They lived forever. They could be 50, and another 15, but they would still get a long. It was their way. Such peaceful and good-natured people. She nodded. She could do this. With the help of the old ones and Merriman's strength, she could. . . she knew she could. She sighed happily. This was the best day she had had since. . . She shook her head. She wouldn't think about that now, in such a perfect and tranquil place. "Such a beautiful sunset. Almost magical. . . Where are we now?" "By the river Dyfi. In Wales."
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So??? Ah come on, was it really THAT bad? Please review??? Please? Please don't be harsh, I tried to make it. . . good, honest I tried. . . But yeah. . . anyway. . . Byebye. Thanks for reading. . .
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A young girl, perhaps around the age of 14, with shoulder length dark brown hair, lay unconscious on the smooth sand that lay glistening under the sun by the shores of the river dyfi. "Argh." She moaned softly. She attempted weakly to lift her arm to massage her aching temples, but failing to do so, didn't even bother to open her sore eyes. How long had it been since she had any got decent sleep? "Grace. . . Grace? Please wake up. At least try to open your eyes. What on earth has happened to you?" Pondered a deep old mans voice. It was like gentle music compared to the dull ringing in her ears that just wouldn't go away. She tried once more to open her eyes. She moaned once more. "I. . . I can't." She managed to choke out. Her voice was hoarse and dry, like she hadn't spoken to anyone in days. Suddenly, before she knew what was happened, was lifted up of the sand by strong, yet gentle arms. "Where are you taking me?" She asked wearily. She didn't even seem to be properly awake. "Sshhh. . . don't waste your energy." She began tugging persistently at his shirt. "We are journeying somewhere far from here, where the dark may not reach us."
There was silence. . . and then something from long, long ago came into her mind.
The dark, the dark will come rising. . .
The girl's eyes suddenly snapped open. The old man glanced down at her. He was wearing a long dark blue cloak, and his hood prevented her from seeing what colour his hair was, and the shadows made by it prevented her from seeing what his expression was exactly. He stopped, and laid her down gently as though she was a China doll that would brake at the slightest impact. She glanced behind her, and saw as though surrounded by mist, huge wooden doors. And in a flash, disappeared. "You are awake." He said in relief. She didn't reply, but instead stared at him, pleading him to talk more about The Dark. . . although something inside her thought that it could be dangerous discussing such matters. As if on cue he replied. "You need not worry about the Dark, for now, when you have. . . will come into your power, no-one of the Dark shall be able to hurt you. You are too innocent. . . and of course, powerful." He added as an after-thought. She glanced down at the surface she was sitting on. Grass. She looked around her, trying to take in and memorise every beautiful detail in the place that surrounded her. It was a vast field surrounded by trees around the far edges of it, encircling them, and a single tree stood alone, yet immense, and importantly in the middle. Almost as if challenging anyone that dared to go near it. "I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about sir. My pitiful existence has always been meaningless and painful. . . but I feel I have no right to question you, but one thing, where are we, and what happened to me?" She asked " What happened to you, even I do not know. But I am guessing that on your way here, through time, the dark tried to intercept your arrival. But you, even with your immature, not yet properly tuned abilities, managed to somehow defeat them. . . You have so much power and potential. Even you have no idea what you are capable of. But I and the old ones will teach you all you need to know, if we can, for I don't even know what will happen now." He paused, turned slightly around and lifted his right arm, as though embracing the beautiful field of green. " You are in a place where no-one may harm you. where the dark will diminish, and the light shall conquer." "The Light? I know. . . the Light. . . a dream perhaps, but so real. . . I have met an old one before. . . " He gazed at her, his dark eyes twinkling in the shadows of his hood. "Indeed you have." "But I don't even know what, or who an 'Old One is. . . " The man sighed. "So many questions, such little time. But I may as well start from somewhere. . . I haven't even told you my name. . . I am Merriman Lyon. I am a friend, and I am at the service of the Light. It's what I was born to do. But you must also believe. Without belief and trust, you can not possibly reach your highest potential. You would be pushing away all our help." She paused slightly before answering. "Merriman. . . such an unusual name. . . but sir, who am I supposed to represent? Are you gong to keep me here as a hostage because I am perhaps of the Dark?" Merriman chuckled heartily. "Call me Merriman. And if you remember, I said that you would come to power here, and that you were too innocent for any harm to be done to you. Why would I help a servant of the Dark come to power? You must remember everything an old one says, it will help you perhaps now, or even making a decision in the future, it could also help you on a quest. Remember Grace, You have not much time to learn our ways, therefore I am hoping you have an excellent memory." She nodded positively. There seemed to a different kind of sparkle in her eyes now. Now that she was no longer afraid, and knew she could trust him, lowered her guard. Like he had said, nothing could harm her here. "You need to be strong Grace. For the things I'm about to tell you, you will find hard to accept. But I beg of you to trust me. For we have no time to waste on you being suspicious. I'm sorry no-one could tell you these things, someone closer to you then I, but The Lady ordered me to make haste." "I understand. I will be strong. I will not fail the Light and my Lady. . . " Merriman's eyes twinkled excitedly. "You're remembering! Oh this is wonderful. I have made the right decision in bringing you to this magical place after-all. The Lady thought it was unnecessary, but we shall see. . . " Grace remained silent, still utterly confused. "Come closer, my child. We shall see how much you will remember, and how much is stored in that mind of yours." Grace stepped forward a few steps facing Merriman. He raised his long arms and put his slender fingers gently around Graces' fragile head. "Clear your mind. Think of nothing for now. . . leave your mind utterly blank." He paused, and the grip around Grace's head tightened a little. "The barrier in your mind. . . it is so strong. . . relax Grace." Grace dropped to her knees suddenly, pulling Merriman down with her. Merriman opened his eyes a fraction trying hard not to brake his concentration. . . but his heart nearly stopped at the sight he saw. He almost expected her to be dead. Suddenly Graces' body went limp and rested on Merriman. Merriman still kept his hand on Grace's head. "Grace? What are you doing? I still can't get into your mind. . . Grace?" He looked at her once more tentatively.
She's not breathing. . .
He began releasing his grip. He had to help her! What was wrong? 'Don't move you hands, I'm working on it. The only way, I think, I can do this, is if I'm unconscious, but I have to be quick, or I'll go into a coma.' Reluctantly Merriman rested his hands on her head in the same position as before trying to concentrate, with Grace's limp form leaning against him. Feeling only slightly relieved that she at least knew how to use one of her powers. And suddenly saw. . . He saw her past. . . The Lady training her. . . she raised her hand. . .
. . . "Come on now Grace! You can do this. . . I trust you. . . you're
small now but you must use your mind. . . Your last task. . . I know you can complete it successfully." She knew Grace could control her mind, but the poor girl. . . she was so afraid at hurting her. . . she resisted the urge to smile. Knowing how much Grace loved her just made her feel warm inside. . . such innocent and pure love. Uncomplicated unlike everything else in life. Merriman stood motionless staring at Grace, merely a four-year-old and The Lady, looking neither old, nor young. "But I can not mother! How could you expect me to do that to you? I refuse to torture you! You know very well how much this would hurt you." Little Grace replied in a very grown-up voice. so sophisticated- but how? "Please, you must try, This is your final test. There will be no more training after this! Come over here." Grace reluctantly did as she was told. "Close your eyes, and concentrate. You know what you must do, as I have told you many times before. And don't stop no matter what. You will need this technique to survive in the future." She closed her eyes, and both stood there unmoving for a nervous few seconds, and abruptly, the Lady began twitching violently. Merriman could feel her trying to resist Graces' power, but she was too strong. He heard Grace moaning from the hard work. . . but suddenly, something was going wrong. . . there seemed to be like an electrical current between them. "Raise your arm." Ordered Grace, in a voice so cold, it sent a chill down his spine. The Lady did as she was told, without hesitation, almost as though she had been hypnotised. Slowly Grace too raised her arm and touched the Lady's fingertips briefly, muttering a few strange words. . . and then. . . Merriman could do nothing but watch as the bright yellow sparks came out of Grace and began zapping The Lady all over, and suddenly, Grace collapsed onto the floor, followed by the violent twitching of the Lady's frail body. Merriman breathed heavily. He had to keep telling himself that this was the past and he couldn't do anything to change the way things had happened. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like for Grace. She would be re- living this terrible nightmare. The Lady stopped twitching finally and began to regain power of her own body. Her eyes fluttered open. "Argh." She moaned softly and lifted her head- though with difficulty. "Grace? Grace my child, why are you so angry? You did it! You managed to succeed in your final task. . . " Whispered the Lady unsure of how Grace would reply after electrocuting her. Of course it could very well have been a mistake. She could have lost control of what she had been doing whilst trying to control her own. But. . . she didn't think so. She could see how angry Grace was, and it was beginning to frighten her. What could have gone wrong? Grace tried to stand up, but couldn't so instead propped herself upright on a chair near by. "You. . . you lied to me." She said venomously. Hate audible in every syllable. The Lady suddenly seemed fearful. She didn't want to show it at first, but she couldn't control what she was feeling anymore. Perhaps Grace had enchanted her. . . Perhaps. . . "Grace?" Whispered the Lady trying to contemplate what, and how much Grace had found out, about what she was talking about. "I trusted you. I trusted you with everything. . . With my life. . . and I would have served you until the end. . . until now. . . now I know everything. . . I can never do anything under your command- knowing how much you could hurt me. . . how much you have hurt me. And you're not even my mother. . . and you were going to make me forget everything after this test. . . You destroyed me." "Grace, I'm sorry! You just couldn't understand! You're not normal for a girl aged four in the humans' world! I was going to give you the perfect childhood! If I had made you forget, then you would still have remembered all your training if there came a time you needed it, and would act like a normal human child, and had a family to take care of you in the perfect environment. The kind of place a child would want to be in. To have fun in, and not take tests to make her stronger! Its too much responsibility." She said with such a loving and tender voice, that Merriman had to look away. He hated to see his master so. . . so weak, and emotional. But Grace merely sighed, and turned around to walk out of the large dining room. "I won't let you." She held up her hand, and pointed all her fingers to the ceiling, and immediately a barrier formed between her and the Lady. Assuming that this barrier would deflect any magic. But she failed to see that using magic for love was more powerful than anything in the world was. A mere barrier cast by a four-year-old couldn't deflect The Lady's magic solely the consequence if her love for Grace. "Please. . . why couldn't you have just let me be? Everything would have been so much easier. . ." The Lady sighed softly. She may not be at the full height of her magical powers, but she could do what she needed to do. She would find the energy somewhere. . . because if she didn't, if she failed her duties, then Arthur would be so mad. . . and Graces' childhood would be lost forever. . . she could never go back again. "Forget. . . You must forget. . . It's the way it must be. Your destiny. . . She heard Grace collapse instantly on the floor of the stretching hallway, the life temporarily drained out of her. The Lady stretched out the five fingers of her slim right hand, whispered a few words of the old ones, and Grace gradually disappeared. . . into another time. . . another world. . . another lifetime. The Lady suddenly broke into tears. . .
. . . Merriman removed his hand from Graces' head and gazed at her face
with compassion. Tears streamed down her weary yet still beautiful face, and closed her eyes trying to block away the world that had hurt her so much. Willing herself to forget. . . but knew that she couldn't. . . knew that she wouldn't have the strength to do such a thing. . . but also, didn't have the strength to go on. All the memories came flooding back into her mind. . . the training. . . the Lady. . . the Old Ones. . . her first encounter with Merriman when she was three. And her father. . . she sighed. Instead of the memories coming back slowly into her mind, brief snapshots of time, it all came back cascading into her mind. . . like they had been waiting for so long for her to remember. But she didn't want to! The Lady was right. She was so much happier when she hadn't known at all. Even though her adopted parents were now dead. And how long she had been searching for her real parents. But knowing, finally, who they were now. . . didn't make the situation any better. If anything, it made it worse, knowing that she couldn't be with them. They were left in another time. Another era. . . "Grace. . . now you know. . . I didn't even have any idea of this. . . I was just, told to wake your sleeping mind. The Lady never told me. But. . . now you know. . . And you must-" Stuttered Merriman, unable to think of anything suitable to say in a situation like this. He felt a little nervous talking to Grace, he tried to find the write words to say to her without hurting her feelings. It was almost like he was talking to his master again. "- I must save the world from the Dark. . ." "Well, you will have quite some part in it actually. . . not directly, but without you, the world would be doomed into darkness. But, also, you can not learn any more, apart from what you will learn from your journeys and quests in the future. . . I had no idea about your training. Only you can train yourself from now on, for you are not an old one, with the powers that we possess. . . therefore we can no longer teach you, after all. You have to be strong and. . . responsible. I know this is all too much to ask of you. . . but the cause. . . the cause you would be fighting for. . . think about it. You may also choose not to accept to help the Light. But you will not forget you past. . . you won't forget all that has happened now, and in the past. . . or who your parents are. . . "He added quietly. "How long do I have to decide?" She asked quickly. "As long as you need, I will be here with you, in this time, this dimension. . . if you need to ask any questions. . . or anything, I'll be here." "I don't need any time." She replied almost coldly. "I have already made up my mind. I know what I must do. I can not just learn about this and not do anything. Besides, I would be a shame to my family wouldn't I?" A hint of a smile crept up on her rosy lips. "I have known what I must do ever since I was little, that's what I was trained for, wasn't it? "This technique will help you in the future. . . " Besides, my adopted parents are dead, I have no family. . . well. . . that I knew of before I found out all of this.and all my friends. . . I have no real friends. They were all fake. Every smile meant that they wanted something, every tear meant they wanted attention. . . nothing was real. This is real. This is what I must do. The real world. I must stop living in the past. Wishing my adopted parents to still be here with me, to support me as they used to. They won't come back. " "Grace, you cannot blame the past. . . the past is what made you into what you are. The honest, innocent, and powerful young lady you have become. Don't be afraid of it. There's nothing wrong with mourning the death of your parents. there's nothing wrong in loving. For loving is what makes you, you. Love is the one thing in the world you need to trust. That is the one thing that is true. The one thing you can trust. You need not surround your heart in a stone wall. Being able to deal with your past will make you stronger." Her face was impassive. "This is my destiny. What is meant to be. I have no choice really. . . it was all planned for me in the first place. . . when I would cry. . . when the ones I loved would die. . . If I could ever learn to love again. . ." She sighed. "My brother. Does he know who his father is? Does he know about me?" "Well. . . he knows who his father is. but he doesn't know about you. I'm afraid many people don't know about you, accept the high magic. They will try and protect you through your quests. They will not help you, but if your life is in danger, then we will be there. . . accept at the very end." "The very end. . . I will die soon then?" She asked. She sounded almost relieved that all the pain and suffering in her life would come to an end at some point. At least she wouldn't live forever like an old one. "There is no need to think about this Grace. No need to reflect on such morbid things. Please, free your mind of all sorrow. That is the future. . . you can't do anything about what will happen. You just have to deal with it as it comes." Grace remained silent. "Come, let's go back into your brothers time." "Wait. . . um. . . does my father know about me?" She asked in a barely audible whisper. "He does, yes. When you first starting training when you were 13 months old, your father sensed you somehow. . . it's just a bond he has with his children. and then, eventually, he found out you were his daughter. He tried to take you away from the Lady, because he knew she was training you for the purpose of saving one of the six, so they would be successful in banishing the dark. He knew all of it. . . but he didn't want you to suffer so badly. He wanted someone else to be given this task. . . A girl. . . a poor innocent child, being put through such torment. His daughter being put through so much torment. He almost went insane. He couldn't have his son by him either, and not being able to have his daughter just. . . just made him mad. . . madder than anyone had ever seen him in his whole life." Tears filled up in her eyes at the painful truth. She was alone. So completely alone. No one knew her. . . know-one knew what she was like what she liked eating in the morning, the kind of clothes she liked wearing. . . the kind of music she liked. . . all the little things. It was like starting a completely different life. Suddenly she broke into a fit of sobs, and rested her head on her knees. And there wasn't even any hope of her going back to her father either. No hope, to change what was already planned. . . no hope. Merriman walked over to her, and gently rubbed her back in support. "It's okay Grace. . . these terrible times will come to pass. . ." "How can you say that? It won't be all right! I'm alone! So utterly alone! No one knows me. Who I am, who I was. And my own father didn't even know I existed! How can everything be all right?" "It wasn't his fault. Or your mothers. But you will find out in due course what happened to you. But right now, this is too much for you to take. This is enough for you to know for now." And with that, Merriman wrapped his huge cloak around Grace and they disappeared. . .
. . . A large black crow passed overhead. The sun glistened magically surrounded by a perfect blue sky, its light rays casting yellow streaks on the golden sand. The waves splashed almost furiously onto the sand, beckoning them to dive in and get pulled away into a watery abyss, on account of the strong current. She stared at the gleaming water for a while, and watched calmly as the waves gradually became placid. It was so unreal. How could a child possibly do such things at such an early age? When would she get the answers she was hoping for? Why was everything in the world concerned with the High magic so complicated. . . and magic? What was magic? Her mind thought of wizards and wands automatically. But this magic. . . this magic seamed to be the essence of the old ones' souls'. It came from within them. No wand necessary. All you needed was knowledge and understanding to use this great gift. But what if you didn't understand them at all? What if your magic became wild, and you no longer held the power to tame it, to be used for good, and not for evil? What if she lost all control over her body, and fell under the control of-
Stop Grace. Stop thinking the worst of everything. I realise this is a terrible time for you, but if you keep thinking like that, like you're sick of your life, and wish everything to be over, the dark will find it easier to manipulate your mind. Everything that has happened to you is not a curse, Grace. It's not. I will help you get through this. I am your friend, Grace. Trust me.
She stayed silent for a while. Merriman glanced down at her. So old, yet so familiar in a sense. . . she was like an old one in some ways. For every old one was friends with everyone else. They all held the same knowledge, the same understanding. . . they were all equal. Age and time didn't mean anything to an old one. They lived forever. They could be 50, and another 15, but they would still get a long. It was their way. Such peaceful and good-natured people. She nodded. She could do this. With the help of the old ones and Merriman's strength, she could. . . she knew she could. She sighed happily. This was the best day she had had since. . . She shook her head. She wouldn't think about that now, in such a perfect and tranquil place. "Such a beautiful sunset. Almost magical. . . Where are we now?" "By the river Dyfi. In Wales."
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So??? Ah come on, was it really THAT bad? Please review??? Please? Please don't be harsh, I tried to make it. . . good, honest I tried. . . But yeah. . . anyway. . . Byebye. Thanks for reading. . .