The Druids Apprentice

Ch 8

Merrill came upon the boys' moments after they entered the valley. "What's happened to you boys?" The old man asked them. He spent the next several minutes trying to decipher what had happened from the stories of four very excited ten-year-old boys.

"Stop." Said the man finally in desperation. "Let me at least have a look at young Ronald's leg."

Without further comment he knelt down and gently took the boy's leg in his hands. Whispering so quietly that only Damon could hear him he called on Druada to mend the boys injuries. After just a few moments the redhead felt a warm tingly run through his body and the old man told him to try standing on his own.

"It feels alright." Said the boy as he took a couple steps then jumped in place a few times.

"There now," the old druid said. "Everyone run down to the manor, Damon and I will be along shortly. Oh. I almost forgot... Draco, I've talked to your father and you'll be staying the week with us if you wish." With a grin suddenly lighting the boy's face he nodded eagerly. "Ronald, I believe you should floo your parents and let them know if you'll be staying the night. Now run along." Turning to his grandson he asked again, "What happened?"

Damon did just as Merrill asked. He explained about the meeting with Ron and the subsequent fight. The old man flinched visibly as the boy explained about the shades, their flight through the woods and Ron's injury. Finally, when the brown haired boy explained their experiences in the druid's circle and the conversation he'd had with Fafnir, the man's face took on a bemused look.

"All this on a quiet walk to town," the mage murmured. "Why didn't you call me when the chase started? There were several ways you could have done it without being noticed."

Looking sheepish, the young boy answered, "I know and I was going to but wile we were running and especially after Ron got hurt..." The boy looked urgently to his mentor, willing him to understand. "They were looking after each other. When Ron broke his leg Draco stopped and went back to get him. The same thing happened in the clearing. Draco started to lose it and Ron purposely started an argument with him over quiddich to take his mind off the shades. They were getting along Merrill!"

"So," the old man said with eyes blazing. "In an effort to get your friends to play nice you put them into a situation where they were in mortal danger?"

"Pretty much, yeah." Said the boy in a small voice.

"Humph..." said the old man. "You're learning faster than I'd expected." The old man took the boys shoulder and guided him towards the castle.

"What will you do about the Shades?" The boy asked.

"I suspect I'll have to exorcise them," answered the druid with a pensive look on his face. "Though I'll have to study up on them a bit first."

The four friends followed Merrill's advice and spent the waning hours of the day at play. When darkness finally fell everyone gathered in the library before the fire. Merrill sat at his desk pouring over ancient texts; Draco and Ron were playing their third round of chess on the rug before the hearth, each had one a game previously and Harry and Damon sat together on the couch, the brown haired boy holding an oddly shaped board and explaining the project he had started on with his grandfather.

"When Draco and I were being chased through Diagon alley that day I noticed that though the broom was fast it didn't turn or maneuver very quickly. When I got home I'd remembered seeing muggle snowboarders on the telly and some of the tricks that they could do seemed almost like magic. I talked Grandfather into helping me make this board to work like a broom, we've got the shape right I think but we're still working on the right enchantments for it."

"Dudley had a skateboard once... He broke it the first day." Harry smiled to himself at the memory of Dudley's face as he stood dumbly on the pieces of the fractured board. He was pulled from his reverie by a chuckle from Merrill.

The old man had looked up from his books and said "Has Damon told you yet about his first attempt to stand on the board the other day?" The comment had drawn Draco and Ron's attention to him as well.

"Grandfather, I don't think it's really necessary..." the boy began as his face tinged pink. "Did I tell you we think we can get the board to go quite a bit faster than a comet 260?" Try as he might though, the old druids words had intrigued the other boys.

"What happened Mr. Forester? Asked Draco with a gleam in his eye.

"I had just put some of the initial charms on the board; levitation and a sticking charm so as to not have the rider falling off at high speeds. Young Damon came in and saw the board hovering over the table and without a word, jumped up on the table and then to the board. Unfortunately I hadn't put the anchoring charm on it yet so the moment he touched it the board was pushed by his weight and they both hit the wall. There was also no righting charm on it so after it hit he lost his balance and the board flipped over and he hit the ground." The boys were fighting hard to control their giggles as the old man went on. "Now picture the scene as I came in several minutes later. The board is floating upside down four feet in the air. In his attempts to free his feet he now had his hands stuck as well to its surface."

By this point the boys had collapsed in gales of laughter. Even Damon was smiling as he remembered how silly he must have looked. The night drew to a close and the boys retreated to the young druid's bedroom where the house elves had conjured three other beds. Damon wished everyone goodnight and lay planning the events for the next day.

Morning came and Draco, Ron and Harry met Merrill in the dining room. Of the mans grandson there was no sign.

"Mr. Forester," said Draco, "have you seen Damon? He wasn't in his bed when we woke up this morning."

"He left on a run quite early." The old druid said as he buttered a scone. "He does this every morning and will be back soon. If you want you can wait for him in the garden."

The boys thanked the old man and robbed the table of all the fruit, bread and cheese as they went outside. Standing in the rear entrance to the castle, the boys looked off into the distance. Rolling hills and a forest seemed to run on forever. Far away by a lake they could see a tiny figure running in their direction.

"Hold on a tic." Ron said with a thoughtful look on his face. "Did you notice the sun was out today?"

"So?" answered Draco. "It does happen sometimes."

"Yeah but it was sunny yesterday as well. In fact it's been like this every other time I've been here. Not only that but when you come into the valley the manor sits on the other end with mountains behind it... where are they?"

The friends stared off into the countryside contemplating the little mystery that they'd discovered as they waited for the young druid. Minutes later the boy stopped before them his cheeks flushed but he was barely even breathing hard for such a long run. He could tell something was wrong. All three of his friends had serious and inquisitive looks on their faces. Checking himself to make sure he didn't have anything fuzzy or odd hanging from his clothes he looked up and asked,

"What? What's wrong?"

"Where are we?" asked Draco.

"Forester Manor," the boy replied, "you know that."

The blond didn't let the question rest, however, "But where is forester manor exactly? It's supposed to be in a valley hidden from muggles but look." He pointed to the countryside before them. "It's a bleedin' forest!"

"And why did the shades suddenly pick now to get all twitchy?" Ron asked.

The brown haired boy stood motionless as he considered his options. He could fix this, make some excuse and have his grandfather modify their memories later tonight. It would be the easiest thing to do but it could backfire if his friends ever found out about it. Telling the whole truth was no better. If Draco learned of his destiny he would likely go back to his father with the information and they would begin shaping them in Voldemort's image. His third option was risky as well but one he believed he could use to work for him on several fronts.

"Alright, I'll tell you but not now. Wait till tonight after Merrill goes to sleep." The boys agreed and Damon spent the rest of the day keeping them busy as he planned out the night's events in his head.

Merrill took them to the village where they spent a large portion of the day with the other children playing football. The sight of the old man purposely making a fool of himself as he tried to keep up with a pack of adolescent boys was a sight to see. After a time he sat out and let the youngsters have their fun without his interference.

All of Damon's friends had a wonderful time. Harry, familiar with the game even if he hadn't played it much quickly caught on and his speed and reflexes scored him several goals. Ron, after figuring out the game talked the captain of his team into wild strategies that were imaginative and successful. Draco had been the brown haired boys only worry. When they had all started the blond had refused to even come onto the field, declaring the (muggle) sport dirty and below him.

As the game had progressed, however he had become interested and even shouting encouragement to Damon and his other friends before he was finally dragged onto the field and taught the basics. Before too much time had passed he was playing on a level equal to Harry's and ended up playing goal, which he was quite good at defending.

Lunch was had at the Skewered boar. The food was greasy and hot and the boys loved it. Merrill and Erne kept the boys in stitches with their funny stories and when they finally left the old man sent them on their way with an open invitation to return whenever they wanted.

Arriving back at the manor they spent the balance of the evening in the library as the old man told stories of ages past when wizards were as feared as dragons. Damon and Merrill also spent more time on the board and the maze of spells that would have to be cast to make it work correctly. They all stayed up quite late and finally when bedtime came the old man shooed them back to the boy's room and retired himself.

Lying in bed Damon controlled his breathing to make it sound as if he was asleep. He hoped that the boys would be so tired from the day's events that they would forget about his promise and he'd have another day to prepare. When he had almost fallen asleep himself he was started awake by the sound of feet scraping across the floor towards him. Cursing himself silently for agreeing to do this he got up as well. All three boys stood before them in pajamas and their housecoats. Motioning for them for silence he led them out of the room and down to the great hall. Waiting until they had all entered, he closed the door and said.

"Alright you can talk now. There's a silencing spell on the room when the door is closed."

"That's why you dragged us all the way to this chilly room in the dark of night Forester? Draco said testily. "For a bloody silencing spell?"

"No." The boy replied. "For you to know what I have to tell you we all have to make an oath of silence. I needed us here because it has to be a blood oath."

Ron's face paled and Harry looked more than a little put out by the idea but Draco threw a fit.

"A blood oath? Are you just melodramatic are you insane? Nobody's done something so... barbaric in... well a really long time. What makes you think I'd let you or anybody put a knife to me and take my blood for some silly little secret?"

"Fine then." The brown haired boy said and shrugged his shoulders. "First I'd never cut you unless you were okay with it but without the blood oath I'm not telling anyone a thing." They all stood staring at each other for a minute until Harry broke the silence.

"If it's that important I'll do it." He said. "I trust you Damon."

Ron also agreed. "Alright but just because I want to know... It won't be a lot of blood... will it?" Damon shook his head with a smile and turned to the blond.

"Come on Draco, it's all of us or none."

Looking very unhappy the boy said, "Let's just get this over with Forester."

"Right then," the young druid said. He had them all take off their housecoats and roll up the pants legs on their pajamas so they could wade to the statue at the center of the fountain. Standing before the beautiful lady he sang slowly, first in Gaelic and then in English.

These four stand before you

Heirs of the order we

Do swear our loyalty unto

The circle yet to be

Lay your gaze upon us

Judge our hearts and minds

An oath we give you freely

The circles power binds

Hear our blood oath given

A knighthood newly coined

Heal that which was riven

Let the Circle now be joined.

The water eddying around their knees suddenly rippled as if stirred from beneath. Changing to a silvery color, the water resembled nothing so much as a puddle of moonlight. Damon turned to them and said, "From here there is no turning back. After I go each of you use your full name and say what I am about to say."

He positioned himself before the statue, took his right hand and wrapped it around the stone blade in the lady's grasp. "I, Damon Xavier Forester, do swear by blood, the circle and the code; the secrets shared between us shall not pass beyond. I am bound to my brothers as they are to me." Finishing the oath, the boy squeezed the sword even more tightly until a trickle of blood rolled down the blade and disappeared into the stone.

Standing back and holding his injured hand to stem the flow of blood he watched silently as Ron and then Harry each underwent the oath. He felt an extra twinge in his hand as his brother offered his hand to the blade, the pain communicated to him through their bond.

Finally Draco went. The boy was obviously afraid of cutting himself but having seen all three friends already doing it he refused to back down. He finished the oath and grasped the blade tightly as the others had done but when his blood touched the blade he fell to his knees as fire swept up his arm and raged through his body. Unseen by him all of the other boys had also fallen, their bloody hands also burning from the inside.

After a seeming eternity that couldn't have lasted more than a few moments the pain subsided and the boys all stared at their hands. In the place of the cut was circular scar slightly larger than a galleon. Inside it was the image of a crouching dragon. As they watched the image faded from red to a light pink. In the morning all they would have to remind them of the nights events is a nearly invisible white scarring on the palms of their hands.

"What was that?" said the blond boy breathlessly.

"That was the blood oath taking hold," Said Damon. "Don't worry, it should never hurt like that again." Damon led them out of the fountain where they put their housecoats back on and followed him a slight distance away.

"First you must all understand that anything we four agree to keep secret will be just that. None of us will be able to tell, write or even think something so that another can find it out. Now as to why the manor and everything around it acts like this is because it's how my grandfather wanted it when he helped build the castle."

"Damon, that's impossible." Ron said. "The castle has to be at least three or four hundred years old. Your grandfathers a bit on in years but nothing like that..."

"The two of them are much older than you think, Ron." Turning back to the fountain the boy raised his hands and called out, "In service to the Pendragon and the code!"

The boys' eyes popped out as the round table rose again from the floor. Taking a seat offered by one of the house elves, Damon ordered butterbeers for the lot of them. The other boys sat in their proffered seats as the meaning of the table and what it stood for became clear.

"This can't be right," Draco said at length. "For this to be what you're making it out, the castle and Merrill would have to be almost two thousand years old!"

"One thousand, six hundred and seventy six years to be exact." Said a voice from the shadows." The boys whirled to see the speaker and Merrill moved into the light. "Though I am a few hundred years older than the castle."

"Grandfather," the boy began. "I..."

"No, Damon," the old man said. "You've used ancient and powerful magics without my permission or guidance. Boys," he said, turning to the remaining three. "Run back to bed, I'll see you in the morning. Damon, stay with me a bit."

Waiting until the door closed behind the retreating boys, Merrill turned on Damon angrier with the boy than he'd ever been. "What," the old man asked barely keeping his voice calm "could have possessed you to take the risk of using such a powerful and dangerous spell?"

"I had to do something," the boy replied. "They were figuring things out, things we missed and I didn't want to take the chance of obliviating them."

"Damon... Harry, where did you learn that particular spell?"

The boy shrugged his shoulders dejectedly. "I didn't. I mean you showed me how to do a blood oath long ago; but when I had the idea to use it, the great hall seemed the perfect place. When I had them all here I knew what I was doing but the words were coming to me like I was reading them out of a book; I knew what I had to say."

Merrill rubbed his face with his hands feeling his years more strongly as he considered the implications of the boy's words. Somehow he had brought his friends together and performed an intricate ceremony that he'd had no prior knowledge of until it had been completed. Turning his attention to the statue at the center of the fountain, he let his thoughts travel back to the last time he'd seen the lady and spoken with her.

She stood on the deck of the small ship, the body of the fallen king laid out in repose before her. Beautiful as ever, she was otherworldly and somehow at the same time as human as any woman torn by grief. Beside her stood the king's wife, her face drawn and pale as they waited to depart their beloved England and take her first love to his rest.

"Lady," he said. "Do not leave. I know I erred in making Arthur, so young an ill prepared, king. He wasn't ready and the dream came undone but it wasn't my intent. I only sought to bring light to the darkness."

The beautiful woman gazed down on him with infinite sadness in her eyes. "You were charged with the protection of the land. Look around you o' great druid and tell me of your success." Merlin didn't turn, there was no need. He'd walked through the desolate countryside, burned fields and shattered homes to reach the shore. His own boots were caked with the blood of the slain armies around him.

"Morgan, please." The old man begged.

"You have broken a sacred trust with us and though you one day may be forgiven, this will never be forgotten. The circle has been broken and hope will fade until the true king returns again." The boat shifted away from the shoreline and began sailing out to sea. "Farewell Merlin, we will not meet again in this world."

The old druid snapped out of his musings to see his grandson still staring, waiting for whatever punishment the old man chose to inflict on him. Merrill strongly suspected, however, that Morgan had guided the boy into restoring the circle. He didn't know why she would do this when none of them except Damon had any chance of defending the land against its enemies but he'd never pretended to understand the logic of women. Without another word of explanation he sent Damon back to bed and sat the rest of the night alone with the statue of his love.

Thanks for all the positive reviews I've gotten, please continue...R&R