TIMELESS-NEW

Knights of the Round Table: Sir Oliver, Sir Orin, Sir Galahad, Sir Bors, Sir Percival, Sir Gawain, Sir Bedivere, Sir Geraint.

All mistakes are my own, only writing for entertainment, only borrowing the characters.

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Camelot was a kingdom was surrounded by vast green lands of every shade imaginable as if when created by God he lingered on the greens emphasizing the lush beauty of the lands and the promise of hope, growth, and prosperity. Tucked into a hillside of the pristine lands was something that seemed incongruent with the hill side, a huge ivory castle, with billowing flags. For the residents of the kingdom, it was a perfect fit; the magic of the realm blending into landscape could only be described as heaven.

The realm itself had a turbulent birth. Misguided kings and heads of state ran the people ragged. t There was a man, a mage, a magician, a sorcerer, whatever you wanted to call him, who took matters into his own hands. In all his many years the magician never led or walked on a straight course, riddles and mysteries were the source of his charm. He could see the future and all its infinite possibilities and was a firm believer in destiny.

So, with the vision of a boy who would be king, he summoned the Lady of Lake for the sword that was forged from deep magic's and had long been held in the waters she protected. She released it to his care. The sword would become the symbol of hope, where there had been none. He had buried the sword in s great stone until the destiny that he had seen came to be.

When the boy- Arthur became King, Merlin saw to his success, helped him to choose his knights. To empower him to seat them at a round table, which in turn bred strength and comradery. Each knight came from distant lands surrounding Camelot, to unify the country. All had been recruited in battles to ensure the peace in the lands. They took an oath to Arthur and very few knew that the King and his knights also took an oath to Merlin, drinking from a cup that had a lengthy history of its own, each given the gift of life and a unique gifts that allowed them to perform sacred ceremonies at each solstice at sacred locations around the territories. They were protectors of the people and the lands. With Camelot in prosperity, Merlin walked away, as was his way.

Until one night a few years later. The weather had been pleasant that day, until evening the gentle rain had become fierce and lightening began to streak across the sky with the thunder rolling endlessly.

Gwen had watched Arthur all day and he was broody and restless. As the evening set and the storm settled, he was staring up and to the sky from the window of their chambers. She came up from behind him and wrapped her arms around him kissing his shoulder.

"What troubles you love?" she asked as he pulled her to his side and held her tight.

"This storm, it feels unnatural. I have had this feeling all day that something is coming."

"Like what?"

"I do not know, love." He spoke and turned to face her and kissed her warmly. "I need to go out." He looked toward the window.

"In this, Arthur be serious." She frowned. He reached to gently cup her cheek.

"I am love, very." She shook her head.

"I do not understand at all."

"Will it ease you if I take Sir Oliver?" he half smiled.

"No" She grimaced "It would ease me if you took all of them." She shook her head and frowned.

"Love, you know that is unnecessary."

She sighed and nodded. He kissed the tip of her nose and pulled away. "I will get him and be back to you soon."

"Be careful."

"Is there any other way to be?" he winked at her left the room.

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The two men left the side door of the great table room. They both looked to the sky.

"What is it my lord?" Sir Oliver spoke to his King.

"I am unsure. I have this feeling all day that something is coming, and it will not go away."

As they began to move from the castle a bolt of lightning struck near an old outbuilding to the Kings left. It shook the ground and splintered the building, yet the building didn't burn and then the storm began to dissipate. The two me looked at each other surprised.

"Helpp." a weak voice came from the remnants of the building. The two men raced to where the voice was coming from. They began to pull and toss boards from what used to be the outbuilding.

"Oh Gods!" Sir Oliver spoke. "Merlin!" he shouted. Arthur helped to pull the rest of the rubble off the wizard. He was covered in ashes and had cuts to his face.

"Merlin." Arthur whispered.

The old wizard opened his eyes. "Helllpmee." The old man whispered before he became still.

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Arthur, Guinevere and Oliver paced outside of Merlin's chamber. Sir Bors and Sir Orin were at his side. After what seemed like ages, Bors' came out of the room, drying his hands off with a towel like cloth.

"Well?" Arthur spoke.

"He is tired. Bone weary but is insistent that he meet with us all at the table."

"Is he able? Is he strong enough?" Arthur questioned.

"Liege he says it cannot wait." He spoke.

"My Lord, we will get him to the table." Orin spoke exiting the room.

The king sighed heavily "Sir Oliver, gather the rest of Knights and have them come to the table." He spoke. He kissed the Queens' cheek and took her hand in his. "Come love, let us go and take our places."

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The mood in the great room was solemn as Bors and Orin helped Merlin down into the room. Percival stood and grabbed a seat for Merlin and set in next to the table then re -took his place. The two knights helped him to sit and stood at his side.

"Lord Merlin, I see you are weary, please speak your peace so that you may rest." Arthur spoke.

Merlin coughed and then cleared his throat. "When I left you all before I thought peace was at last upon us and took my rest. While I was sleeping there was a darkness an evil that I had once thought was defeated that was beginning to grow." Merlin paused. "There was another wizard, who was at least as strong as I who practiced with dark magic. His name was Mordred. He is all darkness and hate. He and I have battled for a long time and when I finally defeated him, I bound him in a place secure and protected." He coughed hard and again cleared his throat. "The spell I cast was difficult and took a lot of energy to perform. In the end, there were 5 artifacts that were used and buried them and secured them with magic." He coughed again and for longer.

"Lord Merlin," Orin spoke. "You are weakened. You must rest."

"I agree with Sir Orin." Arthur spoke.

"Please, let me finish then I will rest. It will explain the storm He closed his eyes and grimaced. "I was pulled from my deep sleep, when one of the artifacts was found." Everyone in the room gasped. "Whatever broke my spell had to have been dark, and evil. It had to be to pull me from my slumber." He spoke. "That caused the storm. I was able to magic myself heret, but it took a lot of power."

"And this evil?" Arthur asked.

"There aren't many that strong to break that power unless he summoned something to him."

"Is that possible?" The Queen asked.

"Aye milady," he spoke softly.

"Merlin," Arthur spoke. "Thank you for the information." He looked to his knights who were at the wizard side. "Bors, Orin. Please help him back to his chambers. Please take turns guarding his door."

"Aye." They spoke. All the knights stood as Merlin was helped from the room. As soon as he was gone, they all sat down.

"Well," Arthur spoke. "For now, extra patrols." He spoke. "Oliver." He spoke.

"Aye." He spoke standing to face the leiges.

"Please arrange the schedule," The King stood and stepped off the dais. Oliver nodded and turned to face the knights. They all tood at attention. Arthur turned and held out his hand to the Queen. "Come my love." He spoke as he laced her arm in his and led her out of the room. Once they left there was a collective sigh in the room and they all relaxed their stance.

Oliver pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, there was a deep sense of forboding building in his chest.

"I volunteer for the first watch." Galahad spoke breaking Oliver's thoughts. "Thank you, Galahad." He spoke to his friend. "I will as well, Sir Geraint spoke."

"Excellent," Oliver spoke. "For tonight just you two. As late as it is you can split north vs south. I still want to have good security for their Highnesses."

"Aye." the rest spoke.

"I will take the first watch for the King and Queen." Oliver spoke.

"And I will join you." Gawain spoke. Oliver nodded.

"The rest of you get some sleep. I have a feeling this may go on until Merlin can tell us more."

"Aye," They spoke and left the room. Oliver and Gawain headed toward the King and Queens floor.

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Somewhere somewhen, deep within the earth was a man who appeared to be in his late 20's sitting on a rock. He wore no shirt and black pants. His wrists were shackled and chained as were his ankles. He had a seriously pissed off look on his face. There was a man standing on the other side of the chamber. He was dressed in leather pants and a red loose button-down shirt that was open. He was at least 6ft tall, had black hair with one wayward curl on his forehead. His eyes were blue, and his skin was tan, and he stood almost arrogantly in front of the chained man.

"I don't understand why you are so angry Mordred. I did as you summoned me to do." He smirked.

"I summoned you to find that artifact." He hissed.

"Yes, you did. What you didn't add to your little request was to bring it to you." He smirk growing to a smile. Mordred's face froze.

"Well then I want you to bring it to me!" He demanded.

"Ah, ah, ah. You know that's not happening. You most certainly are slipping." He laughed. "You summoned a demon. Do you know how NOT popular you are in the demon realm? I was Karmas whelp and got stuck with it when there are an infinite number of things I would rather do." Mordred snarled. "And since we are talking your summoning skills remember your intent has to be specific." He chuckled.

"Bastard!"

"I have been called way worse."

"Don't play with me Incubus."

"Who is playing?" he spoke his turning serious in an instant. "I may come off as easy going but make no mistake I….am…. demon." He closed his eyes and let his power flow over him, and he seemed to get a foot taller. He had dark spiky hair, his eyes were as black as a starless night and his skin was red and black. "So, mind your tone." He hissed.

"Very nice." Mordred smirked. "Just remember you are BOUND to me." He smirked. "You must do my bidding. Now….be gone until I summon you again." He hissed. Incubus meant to reply but he was dismissed by his summoner and disappeared.

"Ohh Merlin, when I get my hands on those artifacts and am set free, you will regret binding me. I will take all you hold dear and destroy it painfully and slowly."

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After the first night of his return, Merlin kicked out Bors and Orin and sequestered himself in his chambers. It took two more days to come out and after his morning routine he searched for the King and Queen. For his head hurt and his heart was heavy.

He had so much more to tell him, tell the knights, wasting a day in bed was foolish. He found the King in the solarium canoodling with the Queen. :Awe to be young and in love.: he smiled. Then cleared his throat. The two laughed and turned to face the wizard.

"How are you feeling?" Guinevere asked moving off Arthurs lap to stand at his side.

"I am well, milady, thank you." He smiled and then his smile faded.

"What troubles you, Merlin?"

"Your Majesties," he spoke solemnly. "I need to tell you a tale and then I have a request."

Arthur looked to Gwen who smiled and reached and squeezed his hand. "Of course Merlin, please have a seat, and unload what ever is burdening you." He spoke. Merlin pulled a stool over from across the room and sat,

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Oliver sat on his horse, overlooking the bluff. His mind a torrent of thought and emotion. The story that Merlin told them at the campfire two nights ago, still resonated with him. Him volunteering to go on a journey to a place he no more understood then he understood magic. Merlin telling him he would have to go into an intensive sleep to absorb all the knowledge he would need to survive. That the gift that Merlin had given him, given all of them would be greatly enhanced in him. Make him completely and utterly different from his brother Knights. That scared him even more. "More like me…" Merlins voice echoed in his head. "Like a wizard with knowledge and power beyond your imagination."

He shook his head thinking about how he had fought to survive when his parents died. Going from a street rat to a soldier to being the Golden Knight of the round table and the Queens' own champion. He heard the horses approach but didn't look to see who it was. One horse and rider stopped at each side of his horse. Orin was to his left. He and Orin had been thick as thieves when they became knights together. Geraint who was on his right was a couple of years older and had become the third in the very tight trio.

"So do you want to get if your chest now or do I have to beat it out of you." Geraint teased looking at Oliver with a teasing grin.

"If I were to guess." Orin spoke looking past Oliver to Geraint, "It would be the near wizardly abilities he would be given and knowledge of world that is beyond belief."

Geraint chuckled. "I think you are forgetting that he will be so …"

"Different? Much more than us?" Orin teased.

"Bigger for his breeches?"

"Ha, ha" Oliver laughed. "You two are hilarious." He spoke and put his head down and took in and let out a big breath. "It was an easy decision for me to volunteer. You both have wives, the inability to have children didn't stop you from expanding your families." He nudged his horse forward then turned him around so he could face his friends. "But what scares me the most is the possibility that I won't come back and I will again lose another family."

Orin shook his head. "Oliver when we met, you never once judged me for what I am and what I could do. You took me at face value. I will not look at you any differently. You are my brother. And as far as not coming back? I think Merlin will do what ever he can to keep that from happening."

"And yes, you will be different like Orin says, it won't matter to me. You are my brother and my brother knight. Keep the faith. We all will all be keeping it for you," Geraint smiled. "Now are you done brooding so we can go and break those new horses?" he teased. He turned his horse quickly and nudged him into a gallop. "Last one there gets to break that really mean mare!" he shouted.

"Thanks Orin." Oliver spoke.

"Nothing to .." he never finished and Oliver also nudged his horse into a gallop. Orin just shook his head and laughed.

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Chloe Sullivan, THE intrepid reported.

After leaving Smallville behind and entering the very real world of journalism that she had craved all of her life, she took to it like a chihuahua on a pant leg. She had been relentless and fierce for major stories, had worked up the ranks earning the respect from her Editor and colleagues. She had also won many awards and received many journalistic accolades. The Pulitzer was just out of reach, seemingly elusive.

Chloe dragged herself into her apartment, exhausted from the day. The day was long and daunting. Tragedy begetting tragedy. So much badness, it made her bone weary. This felt like a set- back. When her door was shut and locked, she dropped all her stuff at her feet at the door and kicked off her heels, sighing in relief. She did not realize how weary she was until the mantle of reporter was shed in the privacy of her home.

She looked to her right, down the hall to her master bedroom. It had a huge soaking tub and that was sorely tempting. She turned to look ahead to her kitchen and thought of the triple chocolate chunk ice cream in her freezer and that seemed more appealing. She trudged slowly to her kitchen grabbing a spoon from the drawer next to her fridge. She opened the freezer pulled out the carton of frozen chocolaty goodness, opened it and stuck her spoon in deep and pulled out a spoonful. She took the bite and closed her eyes savoring in the flavor. She closed the freezer door and sighed taking another bite as she walked to her living room and plopped onto the sofa. She turned on her TV, the channel didn't matter it was only white noise. What came on was a family commercial, a family that reminded her of her last story, a triple homicide with children and her veneer cracked and she cried like she hadn't cried in years.

When her tears subsided she knew the only way to settle her mind was to watch one of her favorite shows- Merlin.

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Merlin was confident that Oliver's journey could wait to the autumnal equinox, it yielded the most celestial energy. It was three weeks away and he wanted Oliver to go into his sleep a week before.

Oliver had tried to put it to rest in the back of his mind. His sleeping became irregular and he had kept dreaming of this tiny blond woman, almost pixie like. He never saw her face, but oh her curves. She sometimes kept him up at night trying to imagine her face.

It was early in the morning with one week to go when he woke from his restless sleep covered in sweat. There was such an overwhelming sense of sadness from the woman, a grief so strong it nearly choked him and had him rubbing the center of his chest as if it were his pain, his grief.

He flopped back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. He was trying to make sense of the dream. He closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep without success.

"For Merlins' sake." He groaned and decided to get up and start his day early. He did all his chores and by mid-morning he was still unsettled so he asked Arthur to spar with him.

The sounds of sword on sword clanking echoed through the courtyard. The grunts of the combatants also carried.

"So what troubles you Sir Oliver that you feel you must battle your Liege?" King Arthur spoke as he parried and thrust his sword against his opponent. Both men were shirtless and sweaty, their breathing was heavy as they had been at the practice for nearly an hour. "Is it the lass in your dreams again?" he asked as Oliver was about to swing his sword and he stumbled slightly enough to give the king just enough to spin, sweep his legs and knock the Knight down with a heavy oomph. "Must have been for you to let me get the upper hand," he smirked. Oliver shook his head and smiled at his King as he stood up. "You never fall for that move." He joked.

"The dream, if that is what it is, is getting more vivid." He spoke, sheathing his sword and walked to the bucket of water set aside for him and poured it over his head shaking his head and wiping his face. "Last night, I could feel such a great sadness, so real as if she was." He shook his head again, "I think I may be losing my mind." He sighed as he went to get his tunic and he used it to wipe his face and his chest. "And I need all my focus for the coming solstice rights."

The King dumped his bucket of water on his head and shook it off. He stared at his knight in concern. "Well, Sir," The King spoke, "You have never failed at the rights. If you are feeling unsettled, go and take a few days and ride to the stones. Meditate, find some peace."

"That sounds like a good idea. I may go to Angels lake. I donot want to be at the stones any sooner then I need to be."

"Very well, go. I will take care of telling people. Find your peace then come back. The Queen would never forgive you if she did not get a chance to send you off properly." Oliver laughed, nodded his head to his liege and turned to head into the castle.

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Chloe shot up in a start. All the lights were on, the TV was off and she had dropped the ice cream container on her carpet. "Damn." She cursed as she swung her legs off the sofa to sit up. She tried to catch her breath. She had dreamed, something she hadn't done in awhile. She closed her eyes and leaned back. Images of two tall men, shirtless, and apparently in mideival times were sword fighting. It was the tall, muscular blonde with the spiky hair that had her attention. He was lithe and moved with such grace. He had ink on a shoulder but she didn't get detail. She sighed and opened her eyes. :That's it Sullivan. No more Merlin and ice cream before bed.: she thought to herself. She stood up to get carpet solution to clean up her mess, then take a shower and really go to bed.

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When Chloe showed up at the Planet the next morning she was immediately called into her editors office which she learned was not a great way to start the day. Chloe sat in front of her editor waiting for the other shoe to drop. The last story she covered was a triple homicide that was unbelievably heinous. The kind of thing that can't be unseen, like a lot of her work. It had had really hit her heard, the darkness, the pain. She blinked realizing her editor was talking to her.

"Did you hear me, Sullivan?"

Chloe shook her head and blinked as Perry just stared at her. "Sorry?"

Perry had called her in to his office and he had sounded pissed off, but to be fair he usually sounded that way. Perry was very complex and difficult to read. To his credit leaned back in his chair arms crossed and studied his ace reported. He was gauging her appearance and she looked strung out.

"I asked you when was the last time you took some time off?" he asked her.

"Puhlease. Justice waits for no one, and Pulitzers don't either." She smirked and yawned.

"Well it may not wait for no one, but it's going to take a break. Now, I want you to go home and I don't want to see your face for a couple of days."

"But Perry?"

"Don't but Perry me. Go," She grimaced. "And if I hear of you working on anything it will be cat shows from here to next year, got it?"

"Yes Chief." She said desperately trying not to sound pissed, which she was. "Thank you." She spoke and stood and left his office.

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Oliver had ridden with a million thought in his head. When he arrived at Angel Lake he went to the spot he had found the most peaceful. It was an overlook that gave the view of the pristine waters. He dismounted his horse and removed the saddle and bridle and let it run. He set his saddle down like a pillow and the saddle blanket as a pallet. He went to the edge of the overlook and sat, his legs dangling over the edge.

"You know you really stink at being silent." Orin spoke as he emerged from the lake and was making his way up the overlook to his brother. Oliver just shook his head.

"Is it just you?" he asked.

"Yeah, Geraint is covering my duty for now." Orin smiled and came and stood next to Oliver. He whistled low and his horse came fdrom out of the trees behind them and trotted to his side. He removed all the tack and smacked his horses' rump to send it away. He set up his stuff next to Oliver's. He grabbed a shirt out of his saddle bag and pulled it on. He then went and sat next to his brother.

"You want to talk about it?" Orin asked.

"Brother, my head is so full of…"

"Oliver….tell me about the dreams." He spoke looking at his friend.

Oliver began to shake his head. "That's all it is." He spoke. "A dream."

"Really? Is that why you aren't sleeping? Is that why you did a near full combat challenge of our King?" he questioned.

Oliver put his head down and sighed. " I dream of this woman." he shook his head. "She is so delicate and slight, almost like a pixie. I have never seen her face. What she does, I don't understand. I can feel her pain. The grief I felt…I have never experienced such overwhelming sadness."

"Oliver."

"Orin, I know..i felt it when I was a child, at losing my parents but this was different. It didn't feel like that kind of loss."

"Is this at related to the journey you are about to take?" Orin asked.

"I honestly have no idea. Arthur sent me here to find peace. There is so much I don't know about any of this except that I have to stop Mordred from finding the rest of the artifacts. And to do that, I think I need to find them and secure them."

Orin sighed. "well then." He spoke pausing. "Let me show you some ways to calm your mind." He smiled. "And you know my wife adores you and she quite frankly told me not come home until I've helped you and given you a gift." Grinning.

"A gift?" Oliver smiled.

Orin reached into his saddle bag and pulled out a very ornate stone. Oliver began to shake his head. " Orin I can't accept that." He spoke.

"Well you better or run the risk of my wife's wraith.." he spoke. "She wanted you to have it." The stone was from the depths of the ocean. A gift Orins' Uncle had bestowed upon his wife as wedding present. The stone beheld magic, ancient magic."

"But?" he asked.

"She said the magic brought me to her. It bestowed upon us those little hellions." He grinned like a proud father. "When I thought for sure I was not ever going to be a father. Take it, the magic will reveal itself when it's needed." He spoke dropping the stone in his friends hand. "And now for finding your peace."

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The sun was long gone, and the midnight stars were dancing in the sky. Oliver had felt more relaxed then he had been over the last week or so. He had laid down and had fallen into a very peaceful sleep. The next moring when he awoke, Orin was gone. Oliver just shook his head and got up and went to the lake for a swim before the day filled with practicing what he was taught.

That evening as he was saddling his horse, Merlin appeared from nowhere.

"Are you ready Sir Oliver?"

"Merlin, now? I thought…I thought there was a little more time?"

"Sorry, but more time I fear is what we don't have." He sighed. "Come let us walk to where we need to be." He spoke and he and Oliver began walking away from the lake.

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The first day of Chloe's forced time off, she cleaned, did laundry, got groceries and even stopped at the liquor store. By 5pm that night she was bored. She began to go through her office to organize that chaos that had gotten away from her when her phone rang. She didn't recognize the number and swiped left to ignore the call, then it rang again. She sighed and answered it.

"This is Chloe." She stated.

"Chloe, it's Lois. I'm in real trouble and I need your help. "