In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young girl. Her name: Merlyn.
We've all gathered in the Hall of ceremonies for Arthur's coming of age ceremony. I'm standing off to the side, wearing an emerald green dress with a gold braided rope belt and my hair in loose waves with a red Camelot vest over it, holding a jug, next to Gwen, who's holding grapes, as we watch the ceremony. Arthur is kneeling in front of Uther, wearing his chainmail and red cloak.
"Do you solemnly swear to govern the people of this kingdom and its dominions according to the statutes, customs and laws laid down by your forebears?" He asks Arthur.
"I do, Sire."
"Do you promise to exercise mercy and justice in your deeds and judgments?"
"I do, Sire."
"And do you swear allegiance to Camelot, now and for as long as you shall live?" Uther asks him, holding out a baton of sorts and Arthur grasps onto it.
"I, Arthur Pendragon, do pledge life and limb to your service and to the protection of the kingdom and its peoples."
"Now being of age and heir apparent, from henceforth, you shall be Crown Prince of Camelot." Uther announces, placing a crown on Arthur's head and the crowd applauds. Arthur stands and faces the crowd, his eyes searching until they find mine and he smirks and I feel my face heat up as I smile back at him.
"So how does it feel to be servant to the Crown Prince of Camelot?" Gwen asks me and I roll my eyes.
"Washing his royal socks will be even more of a privilege." I retort, keeping my eyes on him.
"You're proud of him, really. Even though you complain about him constantly we all know you're completely in love with him." She teases and I splutter at her words.
"I am not." I refute and she gives me a look.
"You are. I can see it in your face." She points out and I blush.
"Those socks are very clean! Of course I'm proud of them." I state, ignoring the 'in love with Arthur' comment of hers and she laughs. A black knight on a horse bursts through the stained-glass window. Arthur and the knights draw their swords in defense.
"What in the devil's name?" Uther exclaims as the horse walks towards Arthur and the Black Knight throws down a gauntlet, causing me to suck in a breath. Arthur sheathes his sword so he can pick up the gauntlet, but another knight grabs it first.
"I, Sir Owain, accept your challenge." He tells the Black Knight.
"Single combat. Noon tomorrow. Till the death." The Black Knight replies before riding out. Later, I'm in Gaius's chambers heading up to my chambers for bed when I turn around leaning against the door frame to the staircase, crossing my arms.
"Have you ever seen this Black Knight before?" I ask Gaius, curious as to who he was, and why he would challenge Arthur.
"I don't believe so." He replies, stirring his pot.
"You didn't recognize his crest?" I ask him, knitting my eyebrows.
"Crest?" Gaius repeats, looking up and pretending not to know what I'm talking about.
"Which house is it?" I ask him, giving him a look.
"I'm not sure. I didn't see it that clearly." He informs me, noncommittally, as he looks back down to his pot.
"But he's not someone you'd forget in a hurry, is he?" I remark and Gaius looks at me quickly before looking back to his pot.
"No." He agrees and I knit my brows at his strange behavior regarding the Black Knight.
"So you don't think he's from around here?" I inquire, moving to lean my back against the wall of the staircase, believing that Gaius seems to know more than he's saying.
"That would seem likely." He admits as he grabs a bottle to add to his mixture.
"Then what's he doing here?" I wonder out loud.
"Merlyn, your faith in my all-seeing knowledge is both touching and wholly misplaced. Maybe if you've finished your work, you could go to bed and leave me to finish mine." He snaps and I raise a brow in surprise at his sharp tone.
"Okay, I'm going." I relent softly, making my way up the stairs before stopping and turning back. "Gaius?" I call back and he looks up.
"Merlyn." He replies, sounding irritated.
"Do you think Owain can beat him?" I ask worriedly, concerned for the knight.
"We'll find out soon enough." He replies, looking at me and I simply nod as I walk up to my room, change into my nightgown and drift off into sleep. The next day Arthur and I are helping Owain prepare for his fight with the Black Knight. I'm wearing a long sleeved maroon dress that Morgana gave to me that shows off slight cleavage, with my hair down in natural curls and my tan jacket. I help Owain with his armor and he gives me a friendly smile.
"You've never fought in mortal combat before. It's different. It's not like the training I've been giving you." Arthur informs him seriously, as he walks up behind Owain, and I hear the worry in his voice as he prepares his friend for a fight to the death.
"Yeah, I know." Owain replies, sounding almost overconfident and Arthur grabs his shoulder, spinning him around to face him.
"Listen to me. The problem is, we've never seen him fight. You have to quickly get the measure of him." Arthur instructs him, telling him how to face the Black Knight and I move back towards the wall.
"But I have the same advantage. He's never seen me fight." Owain points out.
"True." Arthur admits.
"You've watched me." Owain reminds Arthur.
"Yes." He confirms, having trained him.
"And?" Owain asks, searching for approval or reassurance in his fighting.
"And I know no one braver. Remember, all it takes to kill a man is one well-aimed blow." Arthur assures him, placing a hand on his shoulder and I smile, watching Arthur interact with Owain, trying to encourage him before his fight. The door opens and Gwen walks in, curtsying to Owain. Arthur steps back as Owain turns to Gwen.
"The Lady Morgana asked me to give you this token. She wishes you to wear it for luck." She explains, holding out a red ribbon, which he takes.
"You can thank her, and tell her I shall wear it with pride. But I won't need luck." Owain assures her and I wring my hands, worried that Owain's overconfidence will be his downfall as I glance to Arthur and see my fears mirrored in his eyes. We head out to the arena and I wait with Gaius as Arthur is giving last minute advice to Owain before the fight.
"The fight shall be to the knight's rules! To the death!" Arthur announces before he makes his way into the stands to sit bedside his father. "Let battle commence!" He exclaims, and Owain and the Black Knight begin fighting. I cover my mouth in horror as I watch the Black Knight's aggressive fighting style.
"One well-aimed blow!" Arthur calls out and Owain stabs the Knight in the gut.
"Yes!" I exclaim in relief, but the Knight keeps fighting and kills Owain, causing everyone, including me, to gasp in horror, a tear slipping down my cheek. The Black Knight faces the crowd and removes his glove.
"Who will take up my challenge?" He asks, challenging Arthur to pick it up again, as he throws down his gauntlet. Arthur tries to bolt over the barrier of the stands, causing me to grab Gaius's arm in fear, but Uther grabs him, stopping him. Another knight jumps over the stands and takes up the gauntlet.
"I, Sir Pellinor, take up the challenge." He states, accepting the challenge.
"So be it." The Knight agrees before exiting the arena, and I watch him leave, before glancing at Arthur who's stood there fuming, with tears welling in his eyes after watching his friend die.
"Should we tend to his wounds? He took a hit." I ask Gaius, knowing the Knight would need treating.
"Owain didn't land a blow." Gaius argues and I shake my head.
"No, I saw it. The sword definitely pierced him." I insist, pointing at the Knight.
"Are you sure?" He asks me, unsure and I give him a look.
"My eyes are quicker than yours. He should be dead." I state adamantly.
"Perhaps he already is." Gaius suggests and I widen my eyes at the implication. Gaius and I enter the Tunnel Corridor to the Burial Vaults, with me wringing my hands, nervously.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" I ask, worry creeping in my voice.
"You're not scared, are you?" Gaius retorts as we walk down the stairs.
"No, I love old crypts. I wouldn't be seen dead anywhere else." I mutter and the door slams behind us.
"Must've been a gust of wind." Gaius assures me, referring to the slamming door. "We should've brought a torch." He complains, due to the pitch darkness and I smirk.
"Leohtbora." I chant and I light a torch sitting in the wall.
"Huh. Handy!" Gaius remarks and I smile.
"Yes." I agree as I pick up the torch and we continue down. We are walking among the graves and I realize I never asked why we came down here.
"What are we looking for?" I question as I follow him through the maze of coffins.
"Bring your torch over here." He instructs, pointing, and I do as he says.
"We're breaking into someone's grave?" I ask, incredulously, not comfortable with the idea. We walk up to a grave and see it's been smashed open.
"We're too late. I think someone's already broken out." He comments and I raise a brow as I look at the broken grave.
"Tristan Dubois was the brother of Ygraine, Uther's wife." Gaius informs me as we walk into his chambers.
"Arthur's mother?" I inquire, as I trail behind him.
"Ygraine died in childbirth. He blamed Uther and came to the gates of Camelot and challenged him." Gaius continues as he picks up a book and carries it over to the table.
"To single combat." I surmise, nodding, as I understand.
"Uther won. But in his dying breath, Tristan cursed Camelot to one day suffer his return. I thought it was the ramblings of a dying man." He explains as he opens the book and begins leafing through it.
"Men don't just rise up from the dead, though, no matter how angry they are." I comment as I watch Gaius look through the book.
"It's my guess we're dealing with a wraith." Gaius informs me as he stops on a page with a picture of a skeleton knight standing in a grave.
"A wraith?" I question, not familiar with wraiths.
"The spirit of a dead man conjured from the grave." Gaius elaborates, showing me the page.
"So this is the work of a sorcerer?" I suggest, not sure what else it could be.
"Powerful magic can harness the grief and rage of a tormented soul and make it live again." He explains and I lean against the table.
"How do we stop it?" I ask him, thinking I could use my magic like with the griffin.
"We can't. Because it's not alive, no mortal weapon can kill it." Gaius replies and I stand up quickly.
"Surely there must be something." I question, concerned on what would happen if we couldn't stop the wraith.
"Nothing can stop it until it has achieved what it came for." Gaius informs me grimly and I wring my hands.
"And what's that?" I inquire, despite having a good idea on what the wraith is after.
"Revenge." Gaius confirms and I sigh.
"On Camelot? What does that mean for Sir Pellinor?" I question, worried about another brave knight risking their life to fight this Black Knight.
"I'm afraid it doesn't look good." He explains and I frown, trying to think of a way to defeat the wraith before anyone else dies. The next day, Sir Pellinor fights the wraith of Tristan Dubois in the arena. It seems Sir Pellinor is holding his own in the arena, causing the crowd to cheer and I turn to Gaius.
"Maybe you were wrong." I comment, sounding hopeful as we watch the fight.
"I hope so." He agrees, just before Pellinor runs the wraith through, but he doesn't fall. The wraith kills Pellinor, causing the crowd to groan. The wraith turns to the crowd and I let out a strangled cry as Arthur throws his gauntlet down, despite Uther's attempts to stop him.
"I, Arthur Pendragon, challenge you." He announces and I whimper, causing Gaius to place a hand on my shoulder comfortingly.
"So be it." The wraith accepts the challenge.
"Single combat. Noon. Tomorrow." Arthur sets the fight and the Black Knight leaves. I lock fearful eyes onto Arthur and I feel a tear slide down my cheek as he looks my way and I quickly turn, heading out of the arena. I rush off to Gaius's chambers, not wanting to face anyone. A short time later, I'm in the kitchen tears running down my face as I pace in front of Gaius.
"You were right." I admit with a sniffle as I wring my hands.
"I wish I wasn't." He assures me sympathetically and I nod.
"If Arthur fights that thing, he'll die." I inform Gaius as I wipe my tears away.
"He is Camelot's strongest warrior. If anyone can defeat it, he can." He argues, trying to comfort me and I shake my head.
"You said yourself, no mortal weapon can kill it. Which means we have to find a way to defeat the wraith ourselves." I insist, determined not to let Arthur die.
"How do you propose to do that?" He asks, confused on how to defeat the wraith.
"If no mortal sword will kill it... then I will." I explain, running to my chamber, grabbing my magic book and running back downstairs. "With mortal magic." I elaborate, showing him the book, before I begin leafing through it.
"Merlyn, it's too dangerous." Gaius objects and I look up from the book.
"We don't have a choice." I retort before looking back to my book. After an unsuccessful attempt at setting the wraith on fire, I make my way to Arthur's chambers, bursting in, as Arthur is practicing for the fight tomorrow.
"Merlyn, you know that conversation we had about knocking..." Arthur asks me, annoyed at my sudden entrance, but stops when he notices my appearance. My tear stained cheeks, red rimmed eyes, shaking hands.
"You have to pull out." I tell him, my voice full of worry.
"And why is that?" He asks me, looking away from my face and towards the ground.
"Because he'll kill you." I answer him and he looks up, irritation on his face.
"Why does everybody think that?" He exclaims and I take a breath.
"Because they're right! Just pull out. You're the Crown Prince. No one wants to see you die over some stupid challenge. I don't want to see you die over this! I don't want anything to happen to you, Arthur. Please." I plead, eyes brimming with fresh tears, stepping right in front of him, breathing heavily as I stare into his crystal blue eyes.
"I am not a coward." He replies as he looks over his sword.
"I know that. I've stood there and I've watched you overcome every fear you've ever faced. You are the bravest man I've ever known." I inform him, smiling slightly at his small smile at my words.
"That's what's required of me." He comments, referring to being a prince.
"But you are more than that. You're more than that to me. You're not merely a warrior. You're my friend. You're a good man. You're a prince, a future king! You've proved your courage, but you must prove your wisdom." I tell him, wringing my hands as I wait for his answer.
"I'm not backing down." He insists and I shake my head.
"Please, Arthur, listen to me. This is no ordinary knight. Look at him. He doesn't eat, he doesn't sleep. He just stands there, in complete silence. Doesn't that tell you something?" I ask him, my voice breaking in fear for him as I stand by the window watching the wraith.
"No one is unbeatable." Arthur assures me and I sigh.
"If you fight him, you will die. Please." I beg, tears freely falling down my face.
"I'm not listening to this. I have to do this, Meryln." He insists, reaching a hand out but pulling it back quickly once he realized what he was doing.
"I'm trying to warn you, Arthur. Forgive me for being inappropriate but I can't bare the thought of losing you! I don't want anything to happen to you and if you do this, he will kill you. What would that do to the people who care about you? Morgana, the woman who is practically your sister. Or your father. Or Leon, your best friend. Or me, your maidservant, who wouldn't ever forgive herself if she let you go out there without at least trying to stop you. Anyway, goodnight, Sire." I finish with a proper curtsy, wiping my tears before excusing myself and quickly leaving his chambers. I head to the hall of records to search for anything on how to kill a wraith and I use a spell to unlock the door. I scan through the shelves, but I knock over a book and as I bend down to pick it up, I see someone standing in front of me.
"How did you get in here?" Geoffrey asks me, not happy that I broke in during the night.
"The door was open." I lie, inwardly wincing at the ridiculous excuse.
"No, I locked it." He argues.
"Well, someone else must've opened it, then." I suggest, shrugging my shoulders slightly.
"And you thought you'd come in and help yourself?" He questions and I pick up the book, standing.
"I was looking for a book. For Gaius. He thinks the Black Knight is a wraith." I explain
"Then Arthur is in grave peril." Geoffrey remarks, looking worried.
"Which is why I'm here. I need to find a weapon that will kill something that's already dead." I inform him, moving over to the table, placing the book down and moving to an open one, leaning forward.
"Well, I've read of such things in the ancient chronicles." He offers and I look up, eager to learn more about this possible solution.
"Really? What did they say?" I ask him, curious and slightly hopeful.
"Well, several fables speak of ancient swords." He elaborates.
"That can kill the dead?" I inquire.
"The swords the fables speak of could destroy anything, alive or dead." He informs me and I stand up straight at his words.
"Can you show me one of these fables?" I question him, and he looks to be in thought for a moment.
"Well, let me think. Yes. Mm..." He mutters before searching a shelf.
"I'm sort of in a hurry." I explain as I watch him continue searching the shelf.
"Yes, you young people always are." He retorts before finding the book and sitting down at a table. I sit down and lean forward, resting my head on my arms, as I wait for him to find the passage. "This is the Chronicle of Beltain. Now then... Ah, here we are. 'Sir Marhaus looked upon the great sword, begotten in the dragon's breath and found it passing good.'" He reads from the book and I point at him.
"What did you say?" I question, wanting him to repeat the last part.
"'Sir Marhaus...'" Geoffrey begins to read again but I shake my head.
"No. No, no. No, no. Not about him. The dragon." I elaborate and he skims to that part of the passage.
"'The great sword begotten in the dragon's breath...'" He reads again and I take off, now knowing what I must do to save Arthur. I hurry to Morgana's chambers and knock quietly on her door, and Gwen opens it, smiling when she sees me.
"Merlyn. What are you doing here?" She asks me and I smile, leaning against the doorway.
"I've come to ask a favor." I whisper so as to not wake Morgana.
"Yes?" She encourages and I wring my hands.
"I'm not sure how to ask it." I admit and she smiles kindly.
"Ask, Merlyn. You know I'd grant you anything. What is it you want?" She asks me, and I nod.
"I've come to ask for a sword. The strongest sword your father's ever made." I explain and she raises a brow in confusion.
"What for?" She inquires and I inhale a shaky breath.
"To save Arthur." I inform her and she immediately agrees, knowing my feelings for him. I walk with Gwen to her house and follow her inside. Gwen pulls a sword out from under her father's bed.
"My father's been saving this. He's always said it was the best sword he's ever made." She explains as she unwraps the cloth surrounding it and I smile as I examine the sword.
"It's perfect." I agree with her, smiling gratefully.
"He'll kill me if he finds I've taken it." She admits nervously, resting her head on her arms.
"He'll understand. You did it for Arthur." I assure her and she smirks at me.
"I knew you were in love with him. Really." She comments and I blush at her implication.
"Doesn't matter if I am. I'm his maid, Gwen." I confide sadly and she places a hand on my arm before I wrap the sword and hurry back to the palace, rushing down to the dragon's cave.
'Merlyn!'
"Do you know why I'm here?" I inquire, since the last few visits he's known the reason behind them.
'It may surprise you, Merlyn, but my knowledge of your life is not universal.'
"It's to do with Arthur. His life's in danger. He will die, unless I can make a weapon that will kill the dead." I inform him, my voice portraying how serious the situation is, as I unwrap the sword.
'So what do you come to ask of me?'
I float the sword in front of him.
"Will you burnish it, to save Arthur?" I ask him, pleading with him to save Arthur.
'The dead do not return without reason. Who has he come for?'
"Uther." I answer, knowing he'll be less inclined to help now.
'Then let him take his vengeance and the wraith will die without my aid.'
"But it's Arthur who's going to fight him. You have to save him." I beg him, desperation clear in my voice.
'That is your destiny, young witch, not mine.'
"But if Arthur fights the wraith and dies, Camelot will have no heir. I will have no destiny." I argue back.
'A weapon forged with my assistance will have great power.'
"I know." I reply quickly.
'You do not know. You can only guess. You have not seen what I have seen. If you had, perhaps you would not ask this of me.'
"What do you mean?" I question, unsure of what he means.
'In the wrong hands, this sword could do great evil. It must be wielded by Arthur and him alone.'
"I understand."
'You must do more than understand. You must promise.'
"I promise." I repeat, backing up and covering my face as he breathes fire onto the sword.
'Heed my words. The sword was forged for Arthur, and him alone.'
The next day I'm waiting in the armory for Arthur, so I can help him prepare for the battle, and I pick up the sword, admiring the quality and beauty of it.
"That's a fine blade." Uther compliments as he walks in, wearing his chainmail.
"It's for Arthur." I explain, smiling slightly.
"He won't be needing it today. I will be taking Arthur's place." Uther informs me as he walks further in the armory and I set down the sword.
"But Sire..." I start to object.
"Prepare me for battle." He instructs me, not using an edge in his voice, but an almost resigned, if not kind tone of voice.
"Arthur should be the one that fights today." I remind him, referring to the code.
"The grievance was with me, the fight is mine." Uther replies, and I wring my hands.
"I don't have your armor." I inform him, trying to dissuade him from fighting, as I cover up the sword.
"That'll do. It's likely to make little difference." He comments, pointing to armor on the table and I walk over.
"Erm, I-I'll get you your sword." I tell him as he reaches for the sword the dragon burnished.
"This will be fine." He assures me as he picks it up and examines it.
"No, Sire. You don't understand. Erm, That one was made specifically for Arthur." I explain as I start to put on his armor.
"Who made it?" He inquires, curiously.
"Erm, er, Tom, the blacksmith." I answer as I fasten the armor.
"It's worthy of a King." He comments, studying it.
"You would be better off with a sword you trusted." I assure him and he takes a fighting stance with it.
"No. It has almost perfect balance. Tom's not the Royal Swordsmith. I'm surprised Arthur went to him." Uther admits and I smile shyly.
"Oh, that was me. I felt he needed a better sword." I explain, sheepishly as he looks at me curiously.
"You show him the most extraordinary loyalty." He remarks and I move to fasten the other side of the armor.
"That is my job, Sire." I reply politely.
"But beyond the line of duty." Uther comments and I finish with his armor.
"Well... You could say...that there is a bond between us." I explain as I hand him his cloak.
"I'm glad. Look after him." He instructs me and I nod, watching as he grabs a helmet and leaves the armory. When Uther enters the arena the crowd murmurs in surprise, and I take my place beside Gaius.
"You can have what you came for. The father, not the son." Uther informs the wraith. A guard removes Uther's cape. The fight begins and Uther knocks off Tristan's helmet to reveal the mummified face, causing the crowd to gasp in horror. Uther loses his sword and the wraith has him on the ground, but his sword gets stuck in Uther's shield. Uther kicks his shield at the wraith, grabs the burnished sword and runs him through causing the wraith to explode. Uther gets up and removes his helm and the crowd cheers before he tosses the burnished sword on the ground. Later, Gaius and I are eating dinner, when I notice him staring at me.
"You know why I'm looking at you." He comments.
"No." I reply quickly.
"Uther told me you provided him with his sword today. It must have been a very powerful blade to slay the dead. Did you enchant it?" He questions me as I sit in silence, playing with my food.
"No. I didn't." I deny, not exactly lying to him.
"Who did then?" He inquires.
"Wasn't me." I insist.
"Shame. It saved the King's life, I'd have been very proud of you." Gaius informs me and I smile.
"Well..." I trail off and he shakes his head.
"Never mind." He says quickly, giving me a knowing smile. Later, I'm woken up by the dragon's voice in my head.
'Merlyn! Merlyn...Merlyn!'
So I hurry down to the dragon's cave to see what he wanted to talk to me about, still wearing my white nightgown and my hair down in loos curls with my tan boots on, carrying a torch.
'So, does Arthur live?'
"Yes, the sword worked. It was incredible, amazing." I assure him, nervous about his reaction to who used it.
'As I promised.'
"But..." I trail off, trying to think of how to tell him.
'Yes?'
"Things didn't quite go according to plan. I mean they did, except... It wasn't Arthur who wielded the sword. It was Uther." I explain nervously.
'NO!' He yells before roaring loudly in anger.
"I tried, but he just took it!" I continue as he roars ferociously.
'ARGH!'
"Uther's the King. I couldn't stop him!" I defend myself, not knowing what else I could have done.
'The sword was born of the old magic. You have no idea of its power. In the hands of Uther, it will bring only evil.'
"I'll get it back." I swear to him.
'You have betrayed me. You are not ready to be trusted.'
"I'll bring it to you. You can destroy it." I inform him, trying to make amends for my failure.
'What is made cannot be unmade.'
"So what do you want me to do?" I question, unsure what to do if it can't be destroyed.
'Take the sword far from here and place it where no mortal man can ever find it.'
I sneak into the armory and take the burnished sword before I exit Camelot, walking to the Lake of Avalon, the one place I know the sword will remain undisturbed and I throw the sword into the lake.