In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests in the hands of a young girl. Her name: Merlynn.
-0-
The sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the clearing. In the middle of a glade, two figures were training. A man with golden hair and silver armour, and a woman dressed in man's clothes, with long black hair tamed into a plait.
"Come on Merlynn. You can do better than that," the prince called to his servant as she barely managed to block his attack.
Merlynn didn't answer, she just continued to attempt to hit him with her sword. She once again missed and fell onto the ground.
Arthur looked down at her. They had been training for months, ever since she had asked him too, after Knight Valient had come to the kingdom. They had trained once a week at least and she had made little improvement. She was able to defend herself to a point, but only when Arthur went easy on her. If he were to start really trying then she wouldn't be able to handle it.
The prince ran a hand over his forehead.
"Come on Merlynn, you need to watch your footwork," he reminded her.
"I have been," she argued from her place on the ground. "It's the sword. It's too heavy, it throws me off balance." She looked down at her hands in shame. She was angry at herself. Arthur was good enough to help her with this and how did she repay him, by being terrible at it.
Arthur looked down at her for a moment. She was right the sword didn't suit her. It was too heavy and the balance through her off. He went to his sack, which he had set aside, and lifted out his dagger. He held it for a moment, testing the balance. He then walked back over to Merlynn and held it out handle first.
"Try this."
She looked up and saw the blade in his hand. She took it from him. She stood and faced him ready.
He moved towards her, gently swinging his sword at her. She lifted the blade and easily parried him. She took a step forward, taking a swing of her own, he blocked her. She tried again and again and sped up her movements. He took a step back she would advance, she would retreat, he would take a step forward. They danced around each other, moving quickly and swiftly, till eventually Arthur managed to get his blade under her chin. Despite having supposedly lost, she was smiling at him. She looked down between them and that's when he noticed she had manged to get her dagger pointed at his belly.
Stalemate.
She smiled at him. She had done it. Merlynn had drawn with Arthur. He smiled down at her. Proud. He knew she could do it. He also knew that with a bit of practice she would would be a fearsome warrior.
-0-
That evening Arthur was kneeling on the ground before Uther in the Great Hall.
"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?" Uther adressed his son.
"I do, Sire." Arthur swore.
"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?"
"I, Arthur Pendragon, do pledge life and limb to your service and to the protection of the kingdom and its peoples." Merlynn who was stood in the crowd smiled proudly at her prince.
"Now being of age and heir apparent, from henceforth, you shall be Crown Prince of Camelot." Uther declared a large smile on his face as he rested Arthur's new crown on his head. Morgana was stood at the kings side and smiled happily at the prince.
Everyone applauded, as Arthur stood and faced the crowd. He briefly made eye contact with Merlynn, she took the opportunity to send him a smile. A smile that shot straight through his heart and made a warm feeling stir in his chest.
"So how does it feel to be servant to the Crown Prince of Camelot?" Gwen teased Merlynn, from her place at Merlynn's side.
"Washing his royal socks will be even more of a privilege," Merlynn joked.
Gwen rolled her eyes at her friend. "You're proud of him, really. Even though you complain about him constantly."
"I am not."
"You are. I can see it in your face."
Merlynn looked at Gwen a serious expression on her face. "Those socks are very clean! Of course I'm proud of them."
Gwen laughed. Merlynn thought her friend looked very pretty with the flowers that had been woven into her hair.
She was about to comment on them when the window at the end of the hall suddenly exploded, creating a shower of broken glass. Arthur and the other knights were quick to draw their swords and place themselves defensively in front of the King.
The horse slowly trekked forward, the knight didn't look particularly worried about his situation as he rode up to the knights. He removed his gauntlet and threw it to the ground at the knight's feet. Merlynn held her breath as Arthur sheathed his sword and went to pick up the gauntlet. But another knight got there first.
The knight stepped forward proudly. "I, Sir Owain, accept your challenge."
"Single combat," the black knight declared. "Noon tomorrow. Till the death." He then rode out of the hall.
-0-
Merlynn was sat on the steps leading up to her room, Will sat between her legs. Her hair had since fallen from the bun Gwen had so kindly put it into for her, and she was now worriedly talking to Gaius. "Have you ever seen this Black Knight before?"
Gaius didn't look up from whatever it was he was doing. Merlynn had the distinct impression that he didn't want to talk about it, but she had to know. The black knight made her feel... wrong and cold.
"I don't believe so." Gaius informed his niece.
"You didn't recognize his crest?" Merlynn quizzed.
"Crest?"
"Which house is it?" she clarified.
Gaius shrugged. "I'm not sure. I didn't see it that clearly."
Merlynn looked at him doubtfully, "But he's not someone you'd forget in a hurry, is he?"
"No."
Merlynn was left slightly annoyed at the vague and strange answers her uncle was giving her. "So you don't think he's from around here?"
"That would seem likely."
"Then what's he doing here?" She pondered. More to herself then to Gaius but it was he that answered her.
"Merlynn, 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 scolded her.
Merlynn sighed, clearly she wouldn't be getting anything else from him tonight. "OK, I'm going," she got up from the steps and moved to her door. But paused in the doorway. "Uncle?"
"Merlynn." He asked in exasperation turning to face her.
"Do you think Owain can beat him?" Gaius observed his niece's face. When gazing upon her soft worried face with her inquisitive and curious eyes, he was reminded of something he often found himself forgetting. Though she acted wise and strong most of the time, she was still just a young girl of only ten-and-eight.
"We'll find out soon enough."
-0-
The next day the black knight was stood in the arena waiting for his opponent to arrive. Arthur walked into the tournament grounds with Sir Owain, giving him some last-minute wisdom.
"Now remember, find the flow of the fight; try to control it." Arthur said to Owain as they entered the arena.
"The fight shall be to the knight's rules! To the death!" Arthur declared as he walked into the strands.
"Let battle commence!"
The black knight was quick to make the first move, immediately moving to strike Owain. The style of both knights contrasted, with Owain being quick and skilled, while the black knight seemed to be relying on his sheer strength and power, continuously bringing his sword down to hit the young Camelot knight.
The whole crowd were cheering for their knight and Merlynn couldn't help but join in with a loud cry as Owain used the black knights style against him. When the black knight brought his mighty sword down, Owain blocks it with his shield before ducking under it and stabbing his oppenant through the gut.
"Yes!" She cried. But her smile fell as the black knight didn't seem at all hindered and kept fighting. After a few well aimed attacks the black knight killed Owain and the whole arena fell silent.
The black knight stepped over the body and approached the king. He threw his glove down to the ground. "Who will take up my challenge?"
Merlynn's breath hitches when she sees Arthur move to jump over the stands. But Uther's hand on his arm stops him. Sir Pellinor takes the opportunity to jump down and pick up the gauntlet.
"I, Sir Pellinor, take up the challenge."
"So be it." The black knight states before pulling his sword out of the ground and leaves the arena, passing Merlynn and Gaius as he does.
"Should we tend to his wounds? He took a hit," Merlynn asks Gaius.
Gaius looked at her in confusion. "Owain didn't land a blow."
Merlynn shook her head at him in argument. "No, I saw it. The sword definitely pierced him."
Gaius looked at her in suspicion. "Are you sure?"
"My eyes are quicker than yours," she reminded him. "He should be dead."
Gaius gazed at the Knights back. "Perhaps he already is."
-0-
Gaius led Merlynn into the enter the Burial Vaults, later that day. She looked down at the corridor towards the tombs. She gave Gaius a hesitant look.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" she asked her uncle.
"You're not scared, are you?" he teased her.
"No, I love old crypts. I wouldn't be seen dead anywhere else," she joked laughing tensely as she cast her eyes around. Both sorceress and physician jumped when the door slammed behind them leaving them in darkness.
"Must've been a gust of wind," Gaius tried to sooth his nervous niece.
Merlynn cast her eyes around in the darkness. "We should've brought a torch," she muttered to herself. She then noticed the unlit torch on the wall. "Leohtbora," she whispered. She smiled as the torch flamed into life, offering them some light in the darkness.
Gaius observed her as she lifted the torch from the wall. "Huh. Handy!" he pointed out.
"Yes." Merlynn nodded.
Slowly she and Gaius walked among the graves.
"What are we looking for?" Merlynn whispered.
Gaius headed straight for a tomb. "Bring your torch over here," he instructed her.
Merlynn looked at him in shock, "We're breaking into someone's grave?"
"We're too late. I think someone's already broken out."
Merlynn looked down at the tomb and was shocked to see it was cracked open and empty.
-0-
Both Merlynn and Gaius hastily headed back to their chambers.
"Tristan de Bois was the brother of Ygraine, Uther's wife," Gaius was telling her.
"Arthur's mother?" Merynn clarified.
Gaius nodded. "Ygraine died in childbirth. He blamed Uther and came to the gates of Camelot and challenged him."
"To single combat."
"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."
Merlynn shot him a look. "Men don't just rise up from the dead, though, no matter how angry they are."
Gaius opened one of his books.
"It's my guess we're dealing with a wraith," he told her pointing down to the page, which showed a skeleton of a man.
"A wraith?" she asked.
"The spirit of a dead man conjured from the grave."
"So, this is the work of a sorcerer?" Merlynn clarified.
"Powerful magic can harness the grief and rage of a tormented soul and make it live again."
Merlynn looked down at the drawing. She almost felt sorry for the soul. To go to your death not feeling peace and then to be dragged back into your body my dark magic, that must have been quite the horrible experience.
"How do we stop it?"
"We can't. Because it's not alive, no mortal weapon can kill it," Gaius informed her.
Merlynn shook her head. "Surely there must be something."
Gaius looked at her sadly, "Nothing can stop it until it has achieved what it came for."
"And what's that?"
"Revenge."
Merlynn looked at him in confusion. "On Camelot?" Then a horrible thought occurred to her. "What does that mean for Sir Pellinor?"
"I'm afraid it doesn't look good."
-0-
The next day Merlynn found herself hoping, just maybe, Gaius' prediction wouldn't come true
Sir Pellinor was fighting Tristan de Bois in the arena and was doing well.
"Maybe you were wrong." Merlynn commented hopefully.
Gaius looked doubtful but nodded. "I hope so."
Sir Pellinor charges and pushes his sword into Tristan, straight through. But just like the previous day, Tristan does not fall. Merlynn could hear the crowds confusion as Tristan continues the fight, unfazed by what should have been a fatal blow.
The whole crowd dissolves into horror as Tristan ran Pellinor through. Tristan then turned to the crowd. Merlynn, who was expecting Tristan to throw down his gauntlet, was shocked when another gauntlet with a familiar crest landed at Tristan's feet.
"I, Arthur Pendragon, challenge you."
For one moment, which to her felt more like an eternity, Merlynn forgot how to breath.
"So be it," Tristan growled from underneath his helmet.
"Single combat. Noon. Tomorrow," Camelot's prince declared.
All Merlynn could do, was look on in horror. She... she couldn't loose him. Not him. Not Arthur.
-0-
"You were right," Merlynn whispered brokenly to her uncle, from where she sat in their chambers.
"I wish I wasn't."
Merlynn shook her head. "If Arthur fights that thing, he'll die."
"He is Camelot's strongest warrior. If anyone can defeat it, he can," Gaius tried to offer her what hope he could.
She laughed bitterly. "You said yourself, no mortal weapon can kill it. Which means we have to find a way to defeat the wraith ourselves."
Gaius looked at her confused. "How do you propose to do that?"
"If no mortal sword will kill it... then I will," she declared. She rises and runs to her chambers, grabbing her book, choosing to ignore the fact that Will was spread across her bed.
"With mortal magic," she clarified for her uncle.
Gaius immediately shakes his head. "Merlynn, it's too dangerous."
Merlynn shrugged running out the door. "We don't have a choice."
-0-
Merlynn silently approached Tristan. He was stood in the courtyard as he had every night. He just stood there, staring up at the sky.
"Cume her fyrbryne," she whispered, and then she watched as a trail of fire started at her feet leading to Tristan. It formed a ring around him before the flames suddenly grew, till they were surrounding him completely. But just as Merlynn started to feel hope, the flames dimmed until they extinguished completely.
Tristan turned his head and looked directly at her and growled, causing her to jump up and make a hasty retreat.
-0-
Not knowing how to save Arthur was... terrifying. Normally Gaius was able to inform her on what she need to do, but even he couldn't give her an answer this time.
She burst into Arthur's chambers.
Arthur rolled his eyes at his servant. "Merlynn, you know that conversation we had about knocking..."
"You have to pull out," she interrupted.
"And why is that?" Arthur asked, sounding disinterested.
"Because he'll kill you."
Arthur sighed in annoyance. He had hoped, if anyone would believe in him it would be Melrynn. "Why does everybody think that?"
"Because they're right!" She cried. "Just pull out. You're the Crown Prince. No one wants to see you die over some stupid challenge," she begged.
"I am not a coward," he enforced.
"I know that," she assured him. "I've stood there and I've watched you overcome every fear you've ever faced."
"That's what's required of me."
He wasn't looking at her. He hadn't since she walked into the room.
"But you are more than that," she argued. "You're not merely a warrior. You're a prince, a future king! You've proved your courage, but you must prove your wisdom."
"I'm not backing down," he told her, examining the sword in his hand.
"Please, Arthur, listen to me. This is no ordinary knight," she ran over to the window, from which they could see the 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?"
"No one is unbeatable."
Merlynn wanted to cry out in frustration. She wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him. "If you fight him, you will die."
This seemed to only make Arthur angrier. "I'm not listening to this." he began to walk away from her.
She chased after to him, "I'm trying to warn you, Arthur," she grabbed his arm hoping to make him look at her. But he twisted around and grabbed her arm, squeezing tight as his other arm swung the sword around holding it threateningly between them.
"And I'm trying to warn YOU, Merlynn!" He cried.
But as he looked at her, he found his anger dissipating. She looked at him with fear filled, wide eyes. Her whole body was shaking, and her chest was rising and falling in quick, harsh breaths.
He quickly regretted his harsh actions. He let go of her arm and slowly rose his hand towards her face, but before he could touch her she ran from the room, leaving a guilt filled prince behind.
-0-
Merlynn may have been angry at Arthur but she still needed to save him. This is how she found herself searching through the old books in the library. She jumped when an unexpected voice filled the silent room.
"How did you get in here?" Geoffrey asked her.
"The door was open," she lied.
Geoffrey shook his head doubtfully. "No, I locked it."
Merlynn shrugged innocently. "Well, someone else must've opened it, then."
"And you thought you'd come in and help yourself?" he asked her, sudeenly she felt like a little child being scolded by her mother.
"I was looking for a book. For Gaius. He thinks the Black Knight is a wraith," she informed him.
Geoffrey looked at her in shock. "Then Arthur is in grave peril."
"Which is why I'm here. I need to find a weapon that will kill something that's already dead." She told him earnestly.
Geoffrey nodded to himself. "Well, I've read of such things in the ancient chronicles."
"Really? What did they say?"
"Well, several fables speak of ancient swords."
"That can kill the dead?" She asked, hope sparking in her chest.
"The swords the fables speak of could destroy anything, alive or dead," he informed her.
"Can you show me one of these fables?"
Geoffrey nodded. "Well, let me think. Yes. Mmmm..." He turns and starts looking on the shelf, at a very slow pace.
"I'm sort of in a hurry," she pointed out.
"Yes, you young people always are." As soon as he turned around she couldn't restrain her frustration. She pulled a face and mimed hitting him. Yes it was stupid and immature, but it made her feel better.
-0-
After a small eternity Geoffrey had found that a sword begotten in the Dragon's breath, might be able to kill the wraith. Gwen the most loyal of friends had given her a sword, so now she was heading down to the Dragon.
"Merlynn!" He said in surprise,
"Do you know why I'm here?" she asked. She didn't have time for pleasantries.
"It may surprise you, Merlin, but my knowledge of your life is not universal." The dragon told her.
"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."
The dragon looked down at her knowingly. "So what do you come to ask of me?"
Merlynn uses her powers to float the sword in front of the dragon. "Will you burnish it, to save Arthur?" She asked.
"The dead do not return without reason. Who has he come for?"
Merlynn hesitated, she knew the dragon had no love for the king. "Uther."
"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," she begged.
The dragon shook his head. "That is your destiny young warlock, not mine."
"But if Arthur fights the wraith and dies, Camelot will have no heir," she pointed out. "I will have no destiny."
The dragon observed her for a moment, obviously weighing up the effects of his actions. "A weapon forged with my assistance will have great power," he told her.
"I know."
"You do not know," he declared, looking down at the small witch. "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?" She asked confused.
"In the wrong hands, this sword could do great evil. It must be wielded by Arthur and him alone." The dragon told her.
"I understand," she said.
"You must do more than understand. You must promise," the dragon looked down his nose at her.
Merlynn nodded. "I promise."
The dragon nodded at her. He then turned his attention to the sword. He took a large breath in, before he reared his head back, letting out a roar as he breathed fire onto the sword. Merlynn couldn't bare to watch. She turned away throwing a shield up around herself. When the heat dissipated, she lowered her hand, and watched the new sword shine and glitter in the light. She could feel its power already.
"Heed my words." The dragon called, bringing her attention back to him. "The sword was forged for Arthur, and him alone."
-0-
Merlynn was stood in the armory, holding up the sword to the light. It was so beautiful. She could feel its power surge through her every time she touched it. She heard foot steps approaching. She placed the sword down and awaited Arthur's arrival, she was surprised to see the king himself walk into the room.
"That's a fine blade," Uther remarked.
Merlynn floundered for a second before she found her voice. "It's for Arthur."
Uther looked down solemly. Merlynn had never seen him like this before. "He won't be needing it today," the king informed her. "I will be taking Arthur's place."
Merlynn looked at him in shock. "But Sire..."
"Prepare me for battle," he ordered her.
"Arthur should be the one that fights today."
Uther shook his head tiredly. "The grievance was with me, the fight is mine."
"I don't have your armour," she whispered. She didn't want him to yell at her.
Uther shrugged motioning to the armour she had already lain out. "That'll do. It's likely to make little difference."
Merlynn nodded. "Erm, I-I'll get you your sword."
Uther picked up the sword from the table. "This will be fine." He assured her.
She shook her head. "No, Sire. You don't understand. Erm, that one was made specifically for Arthur." He couldn't use it. The dragon was very clear on that. Only Arthur was to wield it.
The king looked at her curiously. "Who made it?"
"Erm, er, Tom, the blacksmith."
"It's worthy of a King," Uther whispered in awe. Like she had thought earlier, it was a very beautiful sword.
"You would be better off with a sword you trusted," she tried to insist. But it was hard to do that to the king.
"No. It has almost perfect balance." He held it up testing the weight as Merlynn attached his armour to his person. "Tom's not the Royal Swordsmith. I'm surprised Arthur went to him."
"Oh, that was me." The king turned to look at her, giving her an odd look. "I felt he needed a better sword." She said, ducking her head under the king's gaze.
"You show him the most extraordinary loyalty," the king observed. In the past he would have been suspicious and unhappy with the connection his son seemed to have with this servant, but not today. Today he was just glad Arthur had someone.
"That is my job, Sire," She tried to brush it off.
"But beyond the line of duty."
"Well... You could say...that there is a bond between us." She said hesitantly, "I know one day he will be a great King."
"I'm glad." Now dressed in his armour, Uther walked to the door. Just before he left he turned and looked at her once more, "Look after him."
-0-
Merlynn was quick to run to the arena. She could hear the crowd's confusion as Uther stood ready to fight and not Arthur.
A guard removes Uther's cape and the battle began. Back and forth the fight went. Uther may have been out of practice but, it looked like he still had some skill. He obviously wasn't planning to go down without a fight either. Tristan was relying on his sheer strength to finally get his revenge. This proven to be a mistake when it left him open and gave Uther the opportunity to knock off his helm.
The face beneath was grotesque. The skin was a pale, yellowish, grey that stretched across the knight's skull. His eyes were dark and sunken, as were his cheeks. He really did look like a walking corpse.
Using the King's distraction, Tristan knocked Uther's sword from his hand. Merlynn looked in fear as he pushed the King to the ground. Though the witch held no love for the king. She knew what strife his death would cause to Arthur, who she did care for her.
Tristan's sword gets stuck in Uther shield, giving the king the opportunity to grab his sword and plunge it into the black knight's gut. The wraith froze, before his whole body began to convulse. It was horrifying to see how the creature exploded, but it did fill Merlynn with a sense of relief. It was over. She even joined in with the cheers at the king's victory.
-0-
Later that evening Merlynn and Gaius were eating their dinner. Merlynn was unusually silent. She was glad the King had won, but she had broken her promise to the dragon. She was so deep in her thoughts, she didn't even realise that Gaius was staring at her until he spoke.
"You know why I'm looking at you."
"No." She shrugged innocently.
"Uther told me you provided him with his sword today." He was giving her a very pointed look.
"It must have been a very powerful blade to slay the dead."
"Did you enchant it?" Gaius asked her.
Merlynn shook her head. "No. I didn't."
"Who did then?" Gaius asked her sceptically.
"Wasn't me."
"Shame. It saved the King's life, I'd have been very proud of you."
"Well..." She trailed off.
"Never mind," Gaius interrupts. Before giving her a knowing smile.
-0-
Late that night, Merlynn found herself walking down the familiar root to the dungeon after being summoned by the dragon.
"So, does Arthur live?" The dragon asked her, upon her arrival.
"Yes, the sword worked. It was incredible, amazing." She answered honestly.
The dragon smiled at her. "As I promised."
"But..." She continued hesitantly. Part of her didn't want to say anything, but she had broken her promise, she needed to take responsibility for that.
"Yes?" The dragon asked.
"Things didn't quite go according to plan. I mean they did, except... It wasn't Arthur who wielded the sword. It was Uther."
"NO!" The dragon roared. Merlynn had never seen him this angry. She honestly found herself frightened.
"I tried, but he just took it!" She tried to explain. But nothing would sooth the dragon.
"ARGH!" He cried in anguish.
"Uther's the King. I couldn't stop him!"
"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." The dragon told her.
"I'll get it back," she promised.
The dragon shook his head. "You have betrayed me. You are not ready to be trusted."
"I'll bring it to you. You can destroy it." She insisted. There had to be a way for her to fix her mistake.
"What is made cannot be unmade."
"So what do you want me to do?" She asked.
"Take the sword far from here and place it where no mortal man can ever find it." She quickly nods and runs for the armoury. Her heart ached at the disappointed dragon she was leaving behind.
-0-
Merlynn went to the armoury that night and retrieved the sword. She takes a horse and rides into the forest. She dismounted and walked towards the crystal waters of Lake Avalon. She grips the sword in her hand before flinging it into the water. There would be a time for the sword, for Excalibur, but it wasn't today. Or tomorrow. But one day she would return.
Review Responses
Daughter of Trickery- I suppose you will have to keep reading to find out both Morgana and Mordred's fate's. All I'm going to say is that I have a definite plan.
Kyuzi4869- Yeah that was just a spelling mistake. Sorry my laptop's not great at pointing these things out.