Hello!
Yes, I know, I know, it's been soooo long! What can I say? Winter has come and with it sickness and then a whole bunch of paper I had to read for my new flat...
But I hope this chapter will be worse it! I personally really like it! And I really hope I'll get some comments and reactions on it!
But, in any case, thank you so very much if you're still reading this. I love you all!
And, finally the biggest thanks ever to my Beta who is keeping track of my timeline better than me!
Read you soon! And Enjoy!
Chapter 47:
The wind was blowing through the trees, ruffling the leaves and creating a peaceful whisper. It almost felt like they were trying to say something: chatting amongst themselves, exchanging stories and rumours.
The Druids believed that if you listen close enough you could know what was happening miles away.
That's what Mordred was doing. He was sitting in the middle of a dense part of the forest, a short walk away from the camp, palms flat on the ground. He was meditating, reaching for the magic that infused the land.
For the past few weeks, it had felt different from usual. It was such a subtle change that he doubted anyone bar the most powerful druids could feel it but he could. It made his skin itch. It was an abnormality.
What was worse was that he couldn't even really describe what had changed. The best he could say was that it felt restless. As if the magic was preparing for something to happen.
But he couldn't fathom what or why.
He had spent hours and hours wondering what could have happened to disrupt so deeply the oldest magic in existence. With no answers.
It frustrated him, his temperament became even shorter than usual, causing everyone around him to walk on eggshells. He didn't care.
Today the disturbance felt even worse. He could feel the magic shifting as if drawn by something, something powerful, just like moths drawn to a flame.
A small voice in his head told him that he knew of only one being powerful enough to create such an effect.
Anger filled him. It could only be him. Emrys.
But what could he be doing? He was already the most powerful being to walk the Earth so why would he need more magic?
He didn't deserve it. He had killed Morgana and had betrayed each and every magic user by allying himself with the Pendragon's.
He was still seething in resentment when he felt it. A shock that made his spine straighten and his lungs inflate with a gasp. A wave of immense magic rippled through him. For one second he felt more than alive. He felt literally everything around him: he could hear even the tiniest of animals in the soil; the sunlight was so bright that it felt like it was burning his eyes.
And then it was over, leaving him reeling, feeling empty, the world dull around him.
He had never felt that much power.
He pushed himself up and hurried towards the camp, his mind still trying to comprehend what had just happened.
He arrived to the camp to find it full of nervous energy. Everyone, druid or not, was out of their tents talking to each other. They had obviously all felt the pulse of magic.
He found Alvarr in front of his tent, talking to one of their spies. The older man waved the man away when he saw the young druid approach.
"Mordred. Was that you?" He asked in a whisper steering him away from the others.
"No. No it wasn't."
"What was it then?"
"I'm not sure. I've never felt anything like this before. But I can bet you Emrys has something to do with it."
Alvarr raised his eyebrow.
"Emrys?... Why? How?"
"I don't know!" Mordred cried out in a burst of anger, a nearby pot exploding, making two druids nearby jump.
He was frustrated enough not knowing the answers he didn't need someone else to ask the same questions.
Alvarr raised his hands.
"Okay, okay. Calm down. We'll send our spies to Camelot to gather information. Maybe they'll be able to tell us more of what's going on."
Mordred didn't answer, still feeling too annoyed to be polite. He turned his back to Alvarr and left to return in the forest, hoping to understand what was going on.
One week.
That's how long Mordred had been waiting.
One long week spent meditating, listening to the world around him, trying to make sense of what happened.
Trying and failing to guess what Emrys was up to.
A discreet clearing of a throat shook him from his concentration.
"What?" He growled not moving from his position.
"Ja… Jacob has come back my Lord." The young boy stuttered, clearly afraid of him despite only being a few years younger.
Mordred nodded in answer and pushed himself up, following the boy back to the camp.
Once in the camp he immediately went to Alvarr's tent, knowing that he would find the spy there. He entered and found both men sat on the ground, goblet in hand. Jacob scurried up to bow upon his entrance.
"What have you learned?" Mordred asked, ignoring the respectful gesture and sitting down.
"Not much my Lord. It seems that Emrys had been missing for two weeks but no one seems to know where he is. However, from what I understood he is accompanied by Sir Gwaine. They left with two horses towards the North. Some people say he has been scared away by the council disrespect against him."
Mordred snorted.
"I don't think so. He's preparing something. I'm sure of it. Has nothing else happened?"
"Well… I'm not sure if it's relevant my Lord…"
"What is it?" Mordred hissed, quickly losing patience.
"There were rumours of a dragon visiting the King. But it may very well be false."
"A dragon?"
"Yes my Lord."
Mordred frowned. A dragon? In Camelot? It was impossible. Dragons were extinct and even if they weren't there was no way any sane dragon would approach the kingdom…
But he couldn't help but doubt.
He had always thought that the existence of Emrys was a legend. And yet he had met him.
Could dragons still exist?
Worst, could dragons be somehow in league with Camelot?
"Mordred? What are you thinking?" Alvarr's voice interrupted his musing. "Do you believe those rumours?"
The man sounded more than sceptical.
"I believe that we are already battling one legend in the form of Emrys and the Once and Future King so why not mystical beings supposed to be extinct? You need to go back to Camelot and learn more about this dragon. Find people who witnessed it." He instructed Jacob.
The man bowed and left the tent in a hurry.
"Really Mordred? Dragons? What can they possibly want with dragons?"
Mordred thought about this.
"I don't know. But I can see both the King and his faithful Emrys wanting to tame dragons."
"Can they even do that?"
Mordred shrugged.
"I wouldn't put anything past Emrys. He is, after all, the most powerful wizard alive."
Alvarr considered this for a moment.
"What can we do against dragons?" He finally asked.
"There are ways to control them. The dragonlords knew of them. I'm sure I can find them."
"Dragonlords? Uther Pendragon killed them all!"
"I've heard that one of them managed to escape. And if I can't find him, I'm sure there are some books that could help. I will leave tomorrow to try and find them."
"Even if we're not sure of anything?" Alvarr looked as if he was about to make him stay.
"With Emrys I'd rather be prepared." He answered, his tone dangerous.
"Of course, you're right." Alvarr nodded, clearly understanding he wouldn't be able to stop the druid boy.
Mordred nodded, pushed himself up and left the tent. He had to prepare.
Sooo, what do you think? I'm impatient to know!