Anise drifted along the corridors; the fiery torches flickering wildly as she floated past, almost blowing themselves out. Gryfn watched warily as he followed the floating figure, keeping his eyes open for any signs of danger or of the witch.
"We are near." Anise stated flatly, breaking the eerie silence of the fort although she did not turn to look at Gryfn.
The young warrior took a deep breath, hoping beyond hope that Jocosta had roused the others. How was he meant to stop Anise? He racked his brains in search for any kind of tactic, scolding himself as he drew a blank, and before he knew it they were outside Arthur's chambers. Anise halted and hovered outside of the door, turning back to look at the now stoic Gryfn. He stared at her from behind his dark waves that gently fell into his eyes and swept his gaze over her floating form looking for anything that might stop her.
But before Gryfn could find anything, Anise had sent a white ribbon of energy into the air from her fingertips and had blasted open the door. Gryfn could see Arthur jump up from his desk suddenly from inside the room and reach to grab Excalibur. The Roman Commander only got halfway to his sword before he was lifted into the air in a bright beam of energy and held there, suspended above the ground as Anise glided into the room; making herself seen. Gryfn could see the look of surprise and horror on Arthur's face as he hovered there, starting to choke from the force in which he was held. He followed obediently, walking into the room and sending Arthur an apology-filled and warning look as his eyes swung back round to search Anise's person.
"Arthur Castus." Anise affirmed unemotionally, her eyes devoid of life and her body of any form of soul.
Arthur looked down on the floating, but seemingly emotionless figure that held him suspended above the furniture, and tried desperately to comprehend what was going on. Anise was now blank and numb as he watched her, as though she was not herself.
Gryfn stood perfectly still as he tried to concentrate on anything new about Anise that could be aiding the witch in her control.
"Get me the sword." Came the empty command and Gryfn immediately sought out the redundant form of Excalibur on the floor. He picked it up firmly and turned back to Anise as he straightened; that was when he saw it. The necklace. That necklace was not there before the incident in the woods and from what he could see it had binding inscriptions on it; all in ancient scripts that were often used in witchcraft of old. His dark eyes took on a new determination and he glanced back up to Arthur before shifting his gaze to the necklace; Arthur following the boy's stare and watching in wonder at his next move.
"Hand me the sword." Anise commanded again, a slight impatience creeping into her voice; the witch was nearing.
Instantly, Gryfn sprang into action and brought Excalibur high above his head before bringing it down forcefully on the enchanted necklace with a mighty cry. The pendant repelled the sword though and sent it flying through the air to skid across the tiles. Gryfn watched it with wide-eyes before turning back to Anise who slowly turned to meet him. Panic was unmistakable in his eyes as the hovering figure looked down on him with a sinister lifelessness.
"Your assistance is disposable." Anise threatened coldly, leaving Gryfn to do no more then watch as her free hand rose slowly and started to bristle with energy; he was frozen to the spot. Without warning, he was thrown backwards by an almighty force of energy and sent flying through the open door and out into the corridor, where he hit the stone wall bodily and groaned in pain. His neck, it was agony. Sharp stabs of blinding pain ran up and down his spine as he slumped against the stone wall. His vision was soon clouded with black spots as the pain became overpowering. Just before the darkness consumed him, he whispered faintly out into the corridor as his head lolled forward and he fell sideways onto the cold ground...
"The necklace."
The Knights stared at the hunched body of Gryfn as they stood in the corridor. Lancelot was the first to react as he ran forward and threw his head round to look into the room, his hands grabbing for the boy's collar and dragging him roughly out of the way of the open doorway. Arthur watched as Lancelot pulled the boy away; his Knight's mouth hung open and his face a picture of horror as he stared openly at the scene. He disappeared from view a moment later with the limp body of Gryfn and Arthur was left to look back down to Anise. She was waiting for something, this was clear, but she seemed calm enough although her temper was beginning to flare. Whatever she was awaiting was drawing closer, and yet she could not reach for Excalibur as it would mean releasing her concentration on Arthur and possibly breaking the bond holding him, which was simply something she couldn't risk or physically do.
"Leanabh ab sgàth (Child of darkness)." Crowed a chilling voice, and Arthur strained to turn his head and watch as the witch appeared in the room and hobbled over to Anise. The woman was old and decrepit, but her silver eyes were full of malice as she sneered up at the Roman Commander and she reached out a gnarled sallow hand towards him.
"Beatha ab gin ceannard!" She spat at him in Celtic, hatred coating her words as she limped closer.
"You are no leader." Repeated Anise in Briton, her tone flat and listless.
"Merlin bha a draoi réim a bhi sgeun!" The witch spoke again, her voice building in cutting bitterness and volume.
"Merlin was a true power to be feared." Anise translated again; her dead eyes boring into what seemed to be Arthur's very soul. He was entranced by the scene before him, although fear struck his heart when his gaze strayed towards the witch; she held so much power within her, although it was weakening now as her age betrayed her.
"Gryfn? Oh my gods, Gryfn!" Cried Jocosta as she ran up to the Knights, pushing past them and falling to her knees next to her fallen brother.
Day and Tristan followed shortly behind, taking in the scene and Tristan looked quizzically towards the gathered Knights. Day crouched down next to her now crying sister and quickly felt for a pulse within her brother.
"His heart still beats." Day announced in nothing more than a soft whisper, but everyone could hear the fear vibrating in her calm voice. She looked over Gryfn; his pale face, shallow breathing and the unnatural angle of his neck. "His neck is broken." She breathed, reaching across to gently run her hand along the back of his spine.
Day looked up fearfully and sorrowfully at all the Knights gathered as the realisation of the boy's situation dawned on them. She went to reach for Jocosta with a comforting touch but the girl yanked her arm away, causing her to sit down heavily on the cold floor as she backed away from her sister.
"I'll kill that witch." She growled, her eyes unleashing a fierce glare. "I'll kill that witch for what she's done to my brother."
Everyone stared down at the bristling figure in surprise and looked back to the unconscious and potentially dying form of Gryfn.
"What happened? And why aren't we in there?" Tristan asked sternly, his mind back on the situation at hand as he jerked his head towards the open doorway of Arthur's room.
"Anise is in there." Gawain said suddenly, his voice tight and filled with tension. "Gryfn was thrown from the room, literally."
Day's head instantly shot back to look at her brother. Patting his head and whispering to him in Celtic, she stood and looked around at all the Knights; her face desperately trying to keep its composure by masking it with calmness and pride, but underneath she was filled with grief.
"Is there nothing we can do to stop her?" She whispered hurriedly, glancing around at the various expressions on the Knights' faces.
Dagonet frowned before clearing his throat to catch Day's attention.
"Gryfn said something about a necklace."
Day's brows knitted for a long moment as she pondered on the importance of a simple necklace; her mind running back through all of the tales she had been told about witchcraft as a small girl growing up under Merlin's leadership.
"A binding spell." She suddenly uttered in recollection, her expression clearing as she traced back through all of the stories told to her at night. "The necklace binds the wearer to the maker, rendering them under the maker's control. The maker can then use them in any way they choose." She explained quickly to the Knights, her emerald eyes wide in surprise.
"Well is there anyway to stop it?" Gawain urged hastily, coming forward to grasp Day's arm.
Day was silent for a moment as she stared hard at the floor. Her head slowly rose and her chocolate waves slid from her face to reveal a troubled expression.
"Only the maker can break the bond. Usually this spell is used only by powerful witches and wizards, therefore making it nigh impossible for the wearer to end the bond." Day admitted, and everyone present sighed and their shoulders sagged in defeat. "Unless," Day breathed, realisation dawning on her. "The maker uses the control to make their 'slave' perform tasks for them involving death, battle or the like. If that happens then the victim can break the bond, but only the person under attack at that time." Day finished with a triumphant gleam in her eye but it soon faded back to grief as she glanced back down at her brother.
"Is there nothing we can do to help him?" Dagonet asked softly as the other Knights began creeping along the corridor towards the open doorway.
"Only healing powers can help him now." Replied Day softly, staring sadly at the broken body of her younger brother.
Dagonet nodded forlornly, comforting the girl in her grief but they both looked up at Bors' cursing.
"Shit! Ya gotta come an' see this! She's bloody well got Arthur!" He hissed, waving them over furiously.
Dagonet and Day jogged over quickly and Day edged along the line of tense Knights until she could peer around the doorway. She turned back instantly, pressing her back against the wall and breathing quickily as the gathered men turned to stare at her questioningly.
"It's Arthur. Arthur's the victim. They've come to kill him."
The force holding Arthur was beginning to tighten around his throat as the witch relinquished some of the hold over Anise's emotions. Arthur began to choke more violently, struggling for breath as the witch's hissing got louder and more vicious.
"Sibh seòl sinn a tamull ab laigse!"
"You lead us into a time of weakness!" Growled Anise, her anger starting to course through her.
"Onoir chaidh monar àite leat!" Shouted the witch, her hatred resounding clearly in her words.
"Honour has no place with you!" Yelled Anise, her hold tightening more around Arthur's throat. He was starting to wheeze and claw at his throat in a desperate attempt to obtain some air, his face starting to redden.
"Beatha toill mach teasd!"
"You deserve only to die!" Screamed Anise; her eyes ablaze in some unknown fury. Her usually calm and laughing face was now contorted in pain and anger as her blood ran blindingly hot through her veins. Her eyes closed as she let out a yelp of pain as her hold still continued to tighten around Arthur's neck.
Flashes of his past. Flashes burning into her mind. Battle, death, victory, Pelagius, Rome, duty, loyalty, pain, despair, pride, joy. Barks of laughter, screams of agony, wails of grief, cheers of joy. Then back, back even further into his memories. There he was leaving Rome; leaving Pelagius-the man who was like a father to him, leaving his whole world behind to travel here to Britain; one of Rome's outposts. Then screams filled the air, fire burning bright, reminding Anise so much of that night; the night her whole world had changed. But it was not her mother this time in danger, it was Arthur's. Merely a boy, Arthur was forced to try and save his mother, take the mighty Excalibur from his father's grave and return to find his mother gone forever. Forever.
The witch leered in satisfaction as she watched Arthur slowly suffocating before her, and her disciple obeying her every command. Little did she realise Anise's connection with Arthur and that her release on Anise's emotions, restricted as it was, was giving way to not only anger to fuel her energy but also confusion, grief and most of all clarity. Clarity that was telling her she didn't need others hurt to fuel her powers, or anger, or any other vicious emotion. Clarity that was telling her she could do more then just kill. Clarity that was telling her she didn't need somebody to control her.
Just as Arthur was taking his last breath, he was dropped unceremoniously to the hard ground where he lay gasping and panting for breath. The witch, who had closed her eyes in this moment of ecstasy, realised the magical energy coursing through the air had stopped and her eyes flared open as though a storm was brewing within her.
"I didn't tell you to stop!" She screeched at Anise, her face screwed up in fury.
Anise turned slowly to face the witch; her eyes half clouded in blank darkness, and half back to their normal calming pools of brown warmth.
Arthur looked up from his position on the floor and glanced around frantically in search of Excalibur. The witch saw him spot the sword and moved to grab it for herself when she was knocked to the ground by Gawain diving onto her in a fit of anger. Arthur grabbed at the floor in search of purchase on the slippery stone tiles, frantically trying to reach Excalibur. The blade was suddenly presented to him by an urgently smiling Day and Arthur grabbed it relieved to have it within his grasp once again and found himself being lifted to his feet by Lancelot and Bors. He turned to find Galahad, Dagonet and Gawain all piled on top of the witch in an effort to keep her restrained as she was earnestly trying to unleash any power she had left. Tristan kept watch over Jocosta as they sat with Gryfn; his breathing laboured and weak now and his pulse getting fainter by the second. Lastly stood Anise in the centre of the room, unmoving and yet battling a terrible war beneath the surface; good over evil. Arthur stumbled towards her, aided by Day when he nearly fell, and with a great yell he brought Excalibur down on the necklace at her throat. The chain shattered with a sharp snap this time, the pendant crashing to the floor and smashing on the ceramic tiles. Anise fainted instantly into Day's arms as the girl darted forward to catch her, falling to the floor beneath her weight.
The witch beneath three of Arthur's Knights let out an unholy wail as the pendant smashed upon the floor and threw off the three large men in a fit of rage; her strength returned ten-fold with renewed vigour as she fuelled all of her remaining power. She seemed to bristle with angry-filled energy as she stood tall in the room, and with a deep roar she lifted her hands up as if to make to kill Arthur. Her roar turned to a strangled cry though as she looked down to find Excalibur protruding from her stomach. Her silver, rage-filled eyes stopped their swirling and instantly recoiled into a deep black. She staggered backwards, knocking over furniture as she went until she fell and with a blood-curdling scream vanished in a flash of blinding light. All those present, looked at one another in a staggered silence; not believing what they had just seen. But almost immediately a shout broke them from their thoughts as they found another dire crisis to deal with.
"Day! Come here, it's Gryfn!" Bellowed Tristan.
A/N: Very sorry about the choppiness of this chapter but it was the only way I could do it...first time... lol. And anyone out there who knows how to speak/write Celitc/Gaelic will have my guts for garters! I used one of those translation dicitonary sites and picked the words that I thought were nearest from their descriptions, feel free to correct me as it's all terribly wrong but hopefully you get the jist! lol. So how did we like that guys? I seem to go in fits and starts of fluffy mush and then adrenaline-kicking action/drama lol. Hope it wasn't over too quick etc and that all was satisfactory! Feel free to make any suggestions on how to better it etc and what's gonna happen to poor Gryfn! Will he -gasp- die! Mwaa read on, my pretties and ye shall see! Thanks x