Merlin's Vision

Disclaimer: Same as before…The excerpts from the poem "El Dorado" are the work of Edgar Allan Poe. This takes place roughly around the first quarter of the fourth season. The Guardian Damocles is my creation.

Other OC of this fic:

Major Daniel C. Waverly – An officer of the Allied Intelligence Bureau, he recruited Godfrey into the AIB shortly after the Battle of Mayapore.

RoguefanKC – Ask and ye shall receive…a bit of Gideon bashing that is.

Elder Gideon's eyes fluttered open and he found himself staring into the eyes of a big frog. Seeing Gideon awake, the frog forced his jaws open and slid inside his mouth. Startled, Gideon tried to force it out, but before his hands could reach his jaws, the slimy amphibian hopped into his throat and was instantly swallowed.

Shortly thereafter, Leo orbed into the Whitelighter area. "PUCK!" Elder Gideon shouted, but his booming voice seemed to have something wrong with it.

Whatever was wrong with Elder Gideon's voice was getting more pronounced as he yelled to one of his aides, "I don't care how you do it, or how long it takes, bring that Trickster here in chains! He may be my children's favorite jester but his days are numbered."

Leo spotted Nigel and walked over to his former mentor. "What's wrong with Elder Gideon?"

"I do believe our fearless leader has a frog in his throat." Nigel said, with ne'er a change to his calm English demeanor.

Ah the benefit of the British stiff upper lip. Leo mused, before he said, "Nigel, this isn't funny."

"Of course not." Nigel replied, "Have they received it?"

"Yes." Leo replied, "Needless to say it was emotional moment for all of them. They can't quite understand why Prue can't be with them just yet. Piper had the hardest time, in fact Grams did tell her that: "I'm not allowed to tell you now… just like you're not allowed to see her, at least not for a while anyway." But at least she now knows why. They say thank you."

"Tell them they are very welcome." Nigel replied.

"I can't tell you what a big help this has been." Leo replied, and then added, "I've got something from the girls for Prue."

Leo handed an envelope over and Nigel stuffed it into a hidden pocket in his suit jacket. Just then Puck came out of hiding and Leo grabbed hold of him, "You know that Elder Gideon's looking for you? And he didn't sound happy."

"When is he ever?" Puck said, grinning.

"I'm serious. Puck, I hope that you weren't involved in this…" Leo said.

"No more than usual. But if I were, I would have had help…" Puck replied, "Uhoh! Gottagonow! Bye!"

The Divine Trickster wiggled out of Leo's grasp and ran pell mell around the nearest corner. "Damn it." Leo groaned. A very angry looking Penelope Halliwell was storming up the pathway.

"Have you," Penny began when she spoke to Leo and then turned towards Nigel, "Or you seen a bullfrog around here?"

"What would a frog be doing so far away from the pond?" Nigel asked, innocently.

"Perhaps it was kidnapped…" Penny began.

"Don't you mean frognapped, if such a term does exist?" Nigel replied.

"Don't be coy." Penny said.

"Really, I thought you were beyond searching for a seventh husband by now, Penny." Nigel said.

"Nigel, even if I were searching for another husband, you would be the last man I would consider." Penny replied, "Now where is that frog?"

"Why is it so important?" Leo asked.

"Because," Grams said, "I have a presentation at the Magic School, on animal transformations."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Leo asked, "After all, when Phoebe's friends…"

"I was referring to re-transformations…" Grams sighed, "You see one of my students accidentally transformed Natalie into a frog."

Wanker. Nigel thought. How much is Puck going to reveal under torture…Or the stare of an angry Halliwell, which amounts to the same thing.

"Ow! Ow! OOOH! OWWWW!" the loud cries could be heard echoing all over the Whitelighter Area as a very angry Patty Halliwell came towards Penny, dragging a struggling Puck with one arm twisted very painfully behind him.

I'm going to find out. Nigel thought.

"Mom?" Patty said, "I think this gentleman knows where Natalie went."

"Really. I thought he had a hand in her disappearance, seeing that he has been antagonizing her an awful lot of late…" Penny replied, and turning towards Puck she spoke in a tone that would have made the most hardened demon squeal like a small girl, "Where is she?"

"Uh, that's very interesting really…" Puck replied and Patty promptly twisted, "YOW!"

"OK! She's in Elder Gideon's throat!" Puck shouted.

"WHAT?" Penny, Leo, and Patty gasped simultaneously.

"You don't seem surprised." Penny glared at Nigel, noting his lack of shock.

"Our esteemed elder seemed rather hoarse." Nigel deadpanned.

"What did you do to her?" Leo demanded.

"She isn't dead, if that's what you're worried about." Puck replied, "OW! Stop! OK! I sprinkled some pun potion together with protection dust onto her…"

"Pun potion." Penny glared angrily, "So you're the one who stole the pun potion from the Magic Lab…"

"No!" Puck replied, "I merely copied the recipe…"

"Pun potion?" Leo asked.

"It's a newly concocted potion from the Magic Institute." Nigel replied, "Supposedly, dousing one's target with it will cause everyday expressions to take a literal form."

"So Puck splashing Frog Natalie with the potion made her climb into Elder Gideon's throat?" Leo said, "Great, now she's being digested…"

"Not necessarily." Puck said, "I also covered her with anti-digestion potion so that she wouldn't be digested."

"We have to find Elder Gideon right now." Penny interrupted, "The frog princess..."

"As if anyone could call Natalie that…" Puck countered, Patty twisted his arm, "OWWW!"

"Be nice." Patty warned.

"Anyway, before being so rudely interrupted, the frog princess will turn back into a Whitelighter in less than an hour."

"We had best go find him then." Nigel replied.

The foursome headed straight for the Elder Assembly where they were stopped by Damocles, he of the double edged sword. "State your business." He said.

"We wish to speak to Elder Gideon." Nigel replied.

"He is otherwise occupied." Damocles relied.

"This is urgent." Patty replied.

"None may enter, without Gideon's authority!" Damocles replied, reaching for the hilt of his double edged blade.

"This concerns his recent…affliction." Penny replied.

Damocles opened the door, and they saw Elder Gideon sitting upon his throne, a very sour expression on his face. "Eminence," Damocles began, "The Whitelighters Leo and Nigel and the witches Halliwell to see you."

"This," Gideon replied, "Had better be good."

"You don't sound too good." Penny said, "In fact it sounds like you have a frog in your throat."

"Your concern for my health is touching, Penelope, but I seek this affliction to cease, not sympathy." Gideon replied.

"I believe," Penny continued, unruffled, "I may have a cure for your problem."

"Proceed." Gideon replied.

"Amphibian tenant, of the Elder's throat. Ye of warty skin and slimy coat. Come forth now, to open air. Cease from causing woe and despair. Return then to your true shape. From Gideon's throat, you now escape…" Penny chanted.

Just then a swirl of orbs appeared in the center of the room, and standing before Gideon was Natalie, stark naked. She shrieked in alarm, turned, grabbed a nearby tapestry and wrapped it around herself and ran blushing and embarrassed from the throne room.

Bloody brilliant Puck. Nigel thought.

"What are you writing in there, Godfrey?" Doc asked, as Godfrey sat in an easy chair in the rec room, a space aboard the Morrowind the crew had set aside as a sort of lounge for those off duty.

"Just some thoughts." Godfrey replied.

"So it's a journal?" Doc asked.

"Yes." Godfrey replied, as he closed the small volume, sticking it back into his pocket and noticing that Doctor Sweet was carrying a cloth wrapped circular object under his arm.

"What are you thinking?" Doc asked.

"It's just since the invasion of Mayapore and a lot of other things, quite a few blokes from my precinct got drafted by the Emergency Recruitment Act." Godfrey replied, "After the battle we were shorthanded to begin with, but the drafting reduced our numbers even more. We've barely enough police to maintain order and that's been happening all over India."

"That's rough." Doc replied, "I know how frustrating that can be. I remember several of my buddies were charging up San Juan Hill with the Rough Riders while I was still in college. This should help take your mind off of things…"

"What is it?" Godfrey asked, indicating the bundle.

"It's a dart board." Doc declared as he hung it onto the bulkhead, "Want to play a game?"

"Certainly. I'm long out of practice from my university days…" Godfrey replied.

"I'll let you have the first shot." Doc replied, putting one into Godfrey's hand as he walked over to the medical officer.

Godfrey let fly, the dart hitting near the center of the board. "And you say you're out of practice?" Doc said, skeptically. Doc threw a dart and it landed further inboard of Godfrey's.

Godfrey threw it again. The dart landed further outboard of the first dart he'd thrown. "Wanker. I told you I was out of practice…"

Prue stepped into the rec room, with a book under one arm when a dart flew past her face. She turned to see Doc and Godfrey standing quite a few paces away from the dartboard. The dart hadn't struck home yet, and Prue used her telekinesis to send it flying into the ceiling at an angle.

"Nice shot." Godfrey quipped.

"Could you guys move that dartboard away from the doorway?" Prue replied, "I almost got a headache not even Anacin could help thanks to you two."

"Of course." Godfrey replied and headed over to move the board while Doc climbed onto a nearby easy chair, precariously balanced on the back of the chair, trying to reach the dart firmly embedded in the ceiling. Doc got his fingers around it and tugged, it was stuck firmly.

"Prue, could you give me a hand?" Doc asked.

"I'll help as long as you guys don't skewer me with your dart games in the future." Prue warned.

"OK. Give me a little telekinetic tug to get that thing out of the ceiling after I pull on it again." Doc replied.

"Ready?" Prue asked.

"Ready." Doc replied and tugged. At the same time Prue yanked with her mind downward and diagonally, however she used a bit too much force and Doc toppled to the floor.

He sat up rubbing his head, "I said tug, not pull."

"That's what I did." Prue protested, "It was a tug, not a pull."

"Well I hope this is a bump, not a fracture." Doc groaned, as he walked out of the room.

"Guys," Vinny said, "Have you seen my cupcake? I had it in the dining room earlier, but it's missing now."

"It's over there." Godfrey said, pointing at a cupcake with a cherry on top. Vinny took the cherry off the cupcake, shook it, weighed it in his hands, shrugged his shoulders and began to eat it.

"You're not eating the rest of that?" Doc asked, his curiosity piqued.

"No, I just wanted the cherry." Vinny replied.

"What gives?" Prue asked, "With you shaking that cherry around and everything?"

"It's a special kind of dessert. You see I invented a tiny smoke bomb. It explodes on impact flinging red smoke into the air that settles in a red dust on whatever it touches."

"Why did you make a smoke bomb that looks like a cherry again?" Prue asked Vinny.

"I was bored." The Italian replied.

"Guys, I hate to cut in." Doc replied, "But we'd better find that bomb before…"

"AGH!" came a scream from outside the rec room and red smoke could be seen billowing through the doorway.

"Too late." Godfrey quipped, just as Kolopak came walking into the room and Vinny made a quick exit.

Kolopak's face and now slightly singed gray hair were covered with a fine red dust and he held a cupcake with a single bite taken out of it in his right hand. He wore a very sour expression on his face. As he spoke, miniature clouds of smoke emanated from his mouth, "OK, I want to know what maniac designed this particular device?"

The other three people in the room tried not to laugh at Kolopak as he walked into the room with the offending cupcake in hand. "I'm waiting…" Kolopak warned.

"Listen, I'm 100 certain who the inventor is, but would you happen to know where that pyromaniac is hiding?" Kolopak added.

"He left the room in an awful hurry…" Godfrey began.

"When I find him…" Kolopak stormed as he left the room.

"Life here certainly never gets dull." Prue remarked.

"It doesn't." Doc replied.

"Shouldn't we warn Vinny?" Prue asked.

"No, Kolopak isn't going to kill him, he's just going to have Vinny be on cleaning duty for the next week or so…" Doc replied, "And with Doc's frontiersman cooking, things can get pretty greasy."

"Ouch." Prue remarked, "That's why I'm sticking to sandwiches and salads on this trip…"

Just then another blast sounded, and more cherry scented red smoke came pouring from the dining room.

"Dagnabbit!" Came Cookie's shout, "What in tarnation is wrong with those daggone cherries?"

Cookie came running into the recreation room, "Prue, can you do an exorcism on mah kitchen? I think mah cherries are possessed."

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! OW! I gotta hear outta that thing! OW!" Vinny shouted as Bertha dragged him into the room by one ear.

"Your cherries aren't possessed." The old lady replied, "Our resident arsonist just made a few more of his special 'cherry bombs'."

"How many of these things did you make last night, Vinny?" Kolopak asked, his left eye twitching.

"Eh, maybe one or two…" Vinny replied.

"That's good." Prue remarked.

"…hundred." Vinny replied.

"Two hundred smoke bombs?" Cookie said, with murder in his eyes, "You replaced mah cherries with two hundred stinkin' little cherry bombs!"

"That's it, you're disposing of them as soon as possible." Kolopak said, "I don't care how you do it, but get rid of them…"

"They could come in handy, boss…" Vinny protested.

"Not another word." Kolopak replied.

"Do you have what I asked?" Maleficent asked.

"Do you have what I asked." Hades asked, countering.

"You insult me, Hades." Maleficent asked, "I have what you ask for, I need only what you showed me the last meeting."

Hades jingled a small, faintly glowing yellow orb slightly larger than a ping pong ball on the end of a chain curled round his fingers. "As you asked. Are you sure this lone soul will weaken the Charmed One?"

"Her attachment is strong to this soul. Seeing him alive once more will cause confusion, indecision, and maybe distrust." Maleficent said, "That is what we need."

Hades handed the soul to Maleficent, "You do realize it was a bit of a hassle trying to find one soul out of who knows how many, especially when trying to avoid the Elders, and every Whitelighter in existence. A guy with blue flames for hair kinda sticks out up there in Whitelighter land."

"It will be well worth it for you to know that you had a hand in helping defeat one of the Charmed Ones." Maleficent added.

"I hope this works." Hades said.

"Do you doubt me?" Maleficent replied

"Why not just overwhelm her? Sheer numbers?" Hades argued.

"A long list of demons have attempted to use brute force against the Charmed Ones…" Maleficent replied.

"Shax succeeded in killing the witch." Hades pointed out, "And he was one demon…Besides, without the Power of Three, we stand a better chance."

"But of the Charmed Ones she is the most powerful." Maleficent replied, "And she has Kolopak and his pesky crew to help her…"

"A handful of refugees from a world already conquered and one ex-member of the Mayapore Indian Constabulary is hardly worrisome." Hades quipped.

"You forget that the Mayapore defenders managed to drive off our assault, and now the British have launched a counteroffensive against our forces in India." Maleficent replied, "And Godfrey was the one largely responsible for holding the town against our assault. And do not discount the power of the Mother Crystal…"

"Atlantis was conquered, and destroyed." Hades replied.

"Yes, but Kidagakash is the princess of Atlantis, and is the Mother Crystal's living embodiment. If she discovers how powerful she can become, especially with Prue's help." Maleficent replied, "I will make the clone and infuse the soul with it. You make sure that the Heartless are especially active before Prue can find Merlin…"

Hades left to carry out his task.

"Non nobis Domine, Domine. Sed Nomini. Sed Nomini. Tuo Da Gloriam." Donalbain sang, the tune issuing forth from parched lips.

The strain of the Psalm 115, as Godfrey walked down the battleground that had been the streets of Mayapore. Everything ached, the wound on his arm throbbed. He saw Sanjay's body lying with limbs splayed out, head lolling. He picked up the body, slinging it over his shoulders as he joined the rest of his men, wandering over Mayapore's streets, counting their dead and aiding the wounded.

"Non nobis Domine, Domine. Non nobis Domine. Sed Nomini. Sed Nomini. Tuo Da Gloriam…" more citizens and constables joined in the hymn as they walked among the slain. 'Not to us, o Lord. But to your name give glory.' The Latin words rang true of Mayapore's defense. Sixty-two men of the Mayapore Indian Constabulary had held off a massive assault of the Heartless.

Godfrey watched the both his own constables and men from the Pankot Rifles executing any wounded Heartless they encountered. He smelled the acrid smell of smoke and charred flesh as two more policemen dumped gasoline onto a pile of the dead Heartless. He watched as Mullins, Donalbain and Rees hefted Lieutenant York's dead body between them. He watched Sergeant Hiller trundle by, in his usual business-like way, not seeming to mind the black smears mingled with dirt and human blood on his uniform.

The scene shifted, and Godfrey saw York helping a wounded constable to his feet as his unit was falling back. The Heartless were upon them and York turned, firing his revolver, killing the first of the attackers. He fired again, the click of an empty chamber sounding and York turned and ran, reloading frantically. A Bandit caught up to York and slashed him across the back. A Soldier Heartless that ran in front of him stabbed its claws deep into his stomach. Blood gushed from both wounds and from York's mouth. Another stab from a second Bandit made York scream into the air, an animal-like shout of agony uttered through cracked and broken teeth.

Godfrey sat up with a start, breathing hard. He glanced at the clock. 4 A.M. No way he was going back to sleep, though he didn't have duty until 8 o'clock. He dressed quickly and walked out of his quarters, taking a random book from his shelf. He headed for the rec. room and took a seat in one of the arm chairs; he popped to a random page of the anthology from his student days almost a decade ago.

His eyes fell to the first stanza, "Gaily bedight, A gallant night In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of El Dorado."

Certainly I've sought fulfillment in what I do. Godfrey thought. As the poem wore on, the tone began to echo certain strains. Godfrey remembered his days at the university, his attempt to join the British Army, however, downsizing meant the peacetime British Army had too many new second lieutenants. He recalled his return home, serving the Indian Constabulary Service, having not been commissioned into any of the British regiments.

He put it down on the coffee table and stood up, walking to the dartboard. He took three darts from the board, laying the other three on the coffee table and began to throw them at the board.

"That desperate to beat Doc?" Prue asked, as she walked behind him, having just finished her shift.

"I've a bit of catching up to do since my university days and the time I spent at the pub." Godfrey replied.

Prue's eyes fell upon the half opened book, an anthology of Edgar Allan Poe, "I see someone's burning the midnight oil."

"I thought I'd do a bit of reading." Godfrey replied, "I couldn't really sleep and I really hadn't anything to do."

Prue walked over to the chair and picked it up, "I used to read Poe in college."

"I studied his work when I was at the university." Godfrey replied.

Prue leafed through it, and stopped at a particular page, "El Dorado. I was more of a fan of the Raven and Annabelle Lee."

"I once thought the poem meant that to reach one's dreams, one had best marshal his resources and ride boldly forward." Godfrey mused, "But now it's taken a different meaning, goals are achieved at great cost and that cost lies not in gold but in death."

"That's pretty grim," Prue remarked, "And where can you see that whole line about death?"

"Throughout the poem, the chap is aging and dying as he seeks what he hopes to find." Godfrey replied, taking the book, "It's the third stanza: And, as his strength Failed him at length, He met a pilgrim shadow -- "Shadow," said he, "Where can it be --This land of El Dorado?" He's dying and meets a ghost."

"This is about Mayapore, isn't it?" Prue asked.

"It's a personal matter." Godfrey replied.

"Look I understand you're upset that the townspeople were so ungrateful to you." Prue replied. "Certainly an understatement." Godfrey replied, "All the Yorks can seem to do is blame me for Edward's death, Merrick all but destroyed my reputation in the Constabulary and elsewhere with that letter of reprimand…"

"That doesn't matter anymore." Prue replied, "You just started a new life here."

"True. No point mourning what is now lost." Godfrey grinned faintly, he wasn't sure why talking to Prue had been helpful, but he was grateful for it nonetheless, he added, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Prue replied, stifling a yawn, "I'm off to get some sleep. I don't think I'm even going to bother changing…"

Bertha trundled into the room, having overheard that part of the conversation, the old woman opened up with a quip of her own, "I sleep naked."

Godfrey raised an eyebrow, "That was disturbing…"

"I'll say." Doc interjected, as he walked through the rec room, "Trust me, it is not a pretty sight. And she sleepwalks too…"

"Thanks Doc, I didn't need that image before I go to sleep." Prue replied.

Godfrey grinned, "Now who dreams about weird things?"

"I'm going to bed, good night you guys." Prue said, stifling another yawn.

"Good night Prue." Doc and Godfrey replied.

"Up for a game?" Doc asked, taking the darts out of his pocket.

"Always." Godfrey replied.

A few days later the Morrowind touched down at Traverse Town's airstrip. "Milo, Kida, Audrey, and Bertha, you stay with the ship." Kolopak ordered, "The rest of us will find Merlin in the Third District."

The hatch opened and Vinny said, "Finally, non-recycled air."

"My sentiments exactly." Godfrey quipped. The tarmac had lines of Spitfire and Hurricane fighters and Blenheim light bombers parked on the other side, where a British flag flapped in the breeze, and an anti-aircraft cannon poked into the skies.

"Looks like the Royal Air Force detachment's grown a bit." Kolopak noted, "I only hope they do not seek to add Traverse Town to their colonial possessions."

"Britain has enough problems defending her overseas possessions as is." Godfrey replied.

"What are all these districts you keep talking about?" Prue asked.

"There are three districts in Traverse Town. Both the Traverse Town Militia and lately British soldiers from the East Yorkshire Regiment have been helpful in keeping the Heartless out of the First District. They are a reoccurring problem in the Second District, and both mount heavy patrols in the area. The Third District frequently has to summon the East Yorks to help them." Kolopak replied.

They had traveled through the First District without incident, and the Second had been almost as uneventful, as a patrol from the East Yorks had just wiped out a group of attacking Heartless and were stacking the corpses of the Heartless onto a supply truck which drove off, with the patrol in the back.

The 3rd District was another matter. Just as the gate closed behind them, several Heartless appeared. Godfrey immediately drew the .38 caliber revolver from its holster, Kolopak produced a club, about a foot and a half long with several imbedded tooth like structures made of hardened obsidian, Vinny drew out a shotgun from a holster behind his back, Cookie took a lever action Winchester from underneath his coat, and Mole took a Tommy gun out from underneath his coat.

The Heartless charged towards the band of humans, and Kolopak brained a Shadow Heartless with his war club. The normally calm, composed leader of the Morrowind was attacking the Heartless like an enraged jaguar. He was shouting inhuman battle cries, as he brought his club down onto the heads the Heartless.

Prue used her telekinesis to throw a Soldier Heartless into a nearby wall, with enough force to crack its skull. Mole's weapon had just jammed and a Soldier Heartless was about to claw him to death. Prue noticed a loose brick on the sidewalk and sent it flying, using her powers, knocking the creature away.

Godfrey shot a Heartless that was creeping up behind Kolopak when he felt movement behind him. He turned to see a Shadow falling dead, as Doc's Colt 1911A1 .45 automatic blared. "Thank you doctor." "Any time." Doc replied.

Vinny reached into his pocket for more shells when a Shadow Heartless sprang towards him. He swung the butt of his shotgun into the creature's face, knocking it back. "Eat this!" Vinny shouted and flung a grenade at them, the blast killing half a dozen Heartless and wounding several more. The surviving Heartless fled, as it was only a small group.

Prue helped Mole to his feet as Kolopak, still brandishing his war club, stood, panting vigorously, waiting to dash another Heartless skull. "Kolopak?" Prue asked, worried, she had never seen this side of him before.

Kolopak blinked twice and replaced the club on his belt, "Yes?"

"You had me worried for a second." Prue replied.

"Make that us." Godfrey replied.

"We must go to Merlin, quickly." Kolopak replied, "They will be back…"

"Welcome Prue." Merlin said as they walked in.

"How did you–?" Prue began

"Know your name?" Merlin replied, "We share a mutual friend, one who helped you since your reincarnation."

"Nigel." Prue replied.

"Yes." Merlin replied, "He told me of your coming, and that I was to help you find Ansem's Report."

Merlin waved his hand over the crystal ball and the image of a tall, angular woman in black with a two horned headdress with a staff stood in the mists. "This is your foe, know her well."

"Who is she?" Godfrey asked.

"She is Maleficent, a sorceress of great power." Merlin said, "She has gathered together an alliance of evil. It is she who is responsible for the loss of countless worlds and lives."

"What about this Ansem character?" Prue asked.

"Maleficent is the key." Merlin replied, "Find her and you will find Ansem. But beware, Prue, you are not yet strong enough to face Maleficent."

"So where are we going to find this report of Ansem's?" Prue asked.

"It is scattered among Maleficent's henchmen. Vanquish them and you recover the report and you can help your sisters." Merlin replied, "But beware that all is not what it seems. Beware the Golem."

Merlin ushered them out as Prue demanded, "What is a Golem?"

"It's a man, but not truly human." Merlin replied, "Beware for one lurks in your future."

As they walked out to leave, Merlin snagged Godfrey by the sleeve, and when the others were out of earshot he spoke. Merlin turned towards Godfrey, "Beware, Godfrey, the coiled viper."

"Merrick?" Godfrey asked.

"It will strike directly for your heart if you are not wary." Merlin replied, "The most obvious solution is not always correct."

Merlin left Godfrey with the cryptic warning and Godfrey walked outside to join his group, "Bloody wizards." He groaned. But he couldn't help but wonder, who was this coiled viper?

TBC