A/N: So, things are starting to heat up. Next chapter, the action will begin. I'm thinking there will be another... 3 chapters, give or take. I still can't believe this story is coming to an end. Looking back, it's... not as good as it could have been. I've grown a lot as a writer (I know, I know, I've said this before), and I would definitely make different choices if I were to write it again. But I still think this final arch is going to be pretty awesome! So enjoy!
Chapter 21: The Witch's Quickening – part 2
It was easy enough to sneak out of the castle, especially as I had told the guards at the gate Morgana and I were going to spend a leisurely day in the forest with a picnic. We left just before dawn and rode to the valley where Alvarr and his men had made camp.
I was nervous. Morgana believed so completely in their intentions – in Alvarr's intentions – but I was fairly certain that he was bad news. If I didn't like what I saw, how would I tell Morgana?
"We're almost there," Morgana said, her eyes bright and a smile tugging at her lips. She was clearly excited to be there, but the closer we got, the more anxious I felt.
We had to dismount for the last part of the journey. Alvarr had chosen his campsite well; there was no way to approach on horseback and the trees provided good cover. As we emerged from the treeline, I immediately spotted Alvarr and a blonde woman waiting for us.
"Morgana," Alvarr called out. "What is this, I thought you said you'd come alone?"
Morgana smiled, apparently oblivious to his vaguely suspicious tone and the hand on his sword. "This is my friend Merlynn, she means you no harm, I swear," she said.
Before Alvarr could reply, Mordred emerged from a nearby tent and sprinted towards us. "Morgana!" he shouted, and launched himself into her arms.
I wasn't sure what to feel when I came face to face with him again. On the one hand, he was destined to kill Arthur, but on the other… he looked just like a happy little boy. To my surprise, once he released Morgana, he turned to me and hugged me, too. It was brief, and not nearly as affectious as the one he'd given Morgana, but it still shocked me. And, I admitted to myself, it pleased me. As he stepped back, he beamed at me and reattached himself to Morgana. 'Hello, Emryss,' he said in my head.
'Hello, Mordred,' I replied. He quirked an eyebrow. I hadn't been that proficient with mental speech the last time he'd seen me, but I'd gotten better at it. I'd even learned to stop broadcasting like Mordred still often did.
"Morgana, why have you brought her here? Are there others?" Alvarr interrupted, stepping closer. I couldn't help but notice that his hand was still on his sword.
Still, Morgana remained ignorant of the rising tension around them. "Merlynn found out about your visit, she wanted to hear your explanation for herself. Once she's convinced, she'll help me get into the vaults. She can distract Arthur like no other," the Lady said with a smirk.
Alvarr raised an eyebrow at me, and I returned his gaze evenly, even though I was sure I was blushing. Why would Morgana just throw that out there? She knew that her relationship with Arthur was to be kept a secret! "Can she now?" Alvarr said, his look turning thoughtful.
"I want to hear what you have to say. Why do you need the crystal? What are your plans for Camelot?" I asked as authoritatively as I could manage. I felt I did fairly well.
After a look from him, the blonde woman who had been standing with Alvarr turned and marched back into the camp. Evidently, he was going to humour me. "Those are a lot of questions from someone who is a stranger to me."
He had a point. "I'm Merlynn, I'm the Lady Morgana's maid, and a friend," I introduced myself.
"She's been teaching me about magic," Morgana added.
I winced. Another secret I didn't want the world to know… Why was Morgana giving away information so freely? Surely it couldn't just be because she wanted to get rid of Uther?
"You have magic?" he questioned, a new sharpness to his gaze.
"No, a friend of hers who died did, but she helped him figure it out when they were young. She gave me a book of magic," Morgana explained, hugging Mordred to her side.
Once again, Alvarr studied me, but I held my head high. "Well, to answer your questions; we hope to use the crystal to overthrow Uther's tyrannical reign. He's killed too many of our people, and he'll pay for it."
I shook my head. "Answering violence with more violence has never solved anything, all it creates is more tyrants," I pointed out. "And you haven't told me what you need the crystal for, specifically. Is it a weapon?"
Alvarr's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, but his polite smile stayed put. He was obviously not used to his rhetoric not working. "Of a sort. Someone with enough power can use it to foresee the future."
Revulsion bubbled up inside me, but I kept it locked down. "No one should know the future, especially not their own."
"We'd use it to overtake Camelot, not for fortune telling," Alvarr countered dismissively.
That answer hardly satisfied me, but I had a feeling he wouldn't discuss it further. "Very well, what are your plans for Camelot? Say you manage to kill Uther and then what? Who would take the throne, you?"
Alvarr's polite smile became somewhat forced. "That shall have to be discussed with all the groups that are left. We might even do as the Greeks did and vote."
"And what of Arthur?" I asked.
"If he doesn't stand in our way, he's no enemy of mine. He was a babe during the Purge," Alvarr replied. "But if he sides with his father he stands against us and will be dealt with accordingly."
Morgana looked up at this. "Arthur isn't like his father, he knows the world isn't as black and white as Uther sees it."
Alvarr's eyes softened as he looked at her, but I wasn't sure if that was due to affection or just a calculated move. "As I said, if he doesn't stand in our way, we mean him no harm."
Morgana smiled, obviously reassured. But I wasn't. It sounded like Alvarr just wanted to replace Uther as the ruling tyrant, and Morgana was letting her feelings blind her.
"Please, I invite you to look around and speak with anyone here, they'll tell you the same think I have; we just want what's best," Alvarr said.
Mordred eagerly pulled Morgana away to look at something, and Alvarr left me to fend for myself. Good. I could use some time to figure out what to do now. I decided to roam about the camp for a while. I spoke to a few people, but most of them either didn't want to talk, or were rude. I was obviously not wanted here.
As I was skirting the edge of the camp, I saw Alvarr sitting at a campfire, scowling in thought. I contemplated going over there and finishing our discussion when the blonde I'd seen earlier joined him. On his lap. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but it was obvious they were together in every sense of the word.
I had to find Morgana.
After walking around the camp, I found her sitting with Mordred in front of a tent. They had a cauldron in front of them, and Morgana was holding her hand over the liquid. As I approached, Mordred looked up and smiled, which alerted Morgana to my presence. "Mordred is teaching me to scry," she said with a smile. Then she grimaced. "It isn't going very well, though."
"You'll get it eventually," I said, before sitting down in front of them. "Morgana, there's something I need to talk to you about."
The dark-haired Lady smiled again. "What is it?"
"It's Alvarr, I know you… have certain feelings for him, but he's not what he seems. I saw him with another woman, Morgana, I think he's just manipulating you."
"He'd never do that!" she protested angrily. "You're just trying to get us out of here! I thought you were on my side!" she shouted, before getting up and storming away. Probably to find Alvarr.
"Morgana, wait!" I called after her, but she'd already disappeared. "Great," I muttered.
"Alvarr isn't all bad," Mordred said hesitantly.
I turned back to the boy and looked at him thoughtfully. "You know about my destiny, but do you know yours?" I asked curiously.
Mordred grimaced. "The Druids won't let anyone look at their own future, it only leads to suffering, they said." The petulant way he said it, led me to believe that he didn't agree. I wasn't sure if I did, either.
"There are things written about you as well, and Morgana. But I don't believe that anyone's entire life can be mapped out from the start. I believe in free will. Nothing is inevitable."
As I glanced at Mordred again, I saw him looking a little concerned. He was a bright boy, after all. "What do they say about me?" he asked, though he sounded like he almost didn't want to know.
"They say that you and I are opposites. And while I fight to protect Arthur… you'll be the one to end his life," I said softly.
For a moment, Mordred didn't respond, didn't even move except to breathe. But then his face crumpled. "The prophesies say I'm evil?" he asked, his voice cracking.
"Not explicitly," I replied. "But like I said; I don't believe that the future is set in stone. For all we know, when you end his life, it won't be maliciously. I don't believe that people are inherently good or evil, I believe we make our own destiny," I said firmly. Mordred looked a little hopeful. He was just a little boy, how could he be evil? I scooted closer. "I chose to protect Arthur because I believe in what he stands for, and I think he's a good man. I didn't do it because some dragon told me it was my destiny. If you don't choose evil as your path, Mordred, I don't think that will be your future."
The boy nodded, but still looked distressed. Perhaps I shouldn't have told him about his destiny – he was only 9 years old, after all – but I believed people, no matter how old, deserved to know the truth. If they could handle it was up to them.
As we sat in silence – Mordred probably contemplating his future, and I thinking about my own destiny – Alvarr walked up to us. I looked up at him and shot him a cold look.
"It seems the Lady Morgana is somewhat distressed," he said, without preamble. "It makes me wonder what exactly you told her." The look he sent me left me with no doubts that he knew exactly what had happened.
"Maybe it's not what I told her, but something you did," I shot back.
His eyes narrowed, but then he quickly schooled his features and sent me a smile. "You're an intelligent woman, Merlynn. I get the feeling that people underestimate you often."
Flattery? Really? "It can be quite an advantage," I said neutrally.
"As I said; intelligent," he said as he smiled charmingly. Or tried to, at any rate.
I rolled my eyes. "You can't manipulate me like you did with Morgana, Alvarr. You can play on her insecurities, but you can't play on mine," I said harshly.
Mordred was now smiling a little. "She is Emrys, Alvarr," he revealed. While I had hoped to keep that titbit a secret for a little while longer, I realized that I would have to disclose who I was sooner rather than later. I'd have to play my part. Also, Alvarr's reaction was very amusing.
The wizard's eyes widened, his mouth falling open. "You are the legendary Emrys?" he asked, incredulously.
I lifted my chin – even though I was still looking up at him – and let my magic come to the surface, turning my eyes gold. Alvarr stumbled back a step as I stood up, but quickly recovered. His features contorted in rage. "Then how can you stand against us! You could be a queen among our kind! We could restore magical folk to their former glory!" he shouted.
I glared at him. "I was offered that once before, and I admit that I was tempted. But I learned from my mistakes. Violence should never be answered with violence. All it does is drag us all deeper into a vicious cycle that we cannot break away from! Say you succeed and take over Camelot, what is to stop the family and descendants of those you killed from vowing revenge? Where does it end? You want power so much you cannot see beyond your own wants, and that is why I'll never let you have the crystal."
Alvarr's countenance became cold. "You arrogant little girl! Just because you have raw power you think you know what's best for a people you clearly have no connection with!"
In his anger, Alvarr had stepped closer, and looked like he might actually hit her. Without a word, I froze him in his place, unable to move or even look away. I could feel his anger melt away into panic, so I released him. "I don't just spout off whatever comes into my mind, Alvarr, I speak from experience. Two years of protecting Camelot and having to make hard choices and sacrifices have taught me a lot. I know I still have a long way to go, but don't you dare assume that you know better because of my age or your own idealism."
And with that, I strode off. Mordred followed me, a little more meekly than I was used to from him. Even he'd never seen me angry before, and I realized that I must've looked a little frightening. "I'm sorry if I scared you," I said, a little contritely.
"You moved the rocks," he said.
I stopped in my tracks. "I'm sorry?" I was thoroughly confused now.
Mordred simply pointed back the way we came. Alvarr was gone now, but it was clear where we had been standing. Unknowingly, my magic had reached out due to my anger. A perfect circle of rocks were visible around where we'd been standing. Some small, some big, but all of them had clearly been summoned by my magic. They'd flattened grass and shrubbery alike, some still had clumps of dirt hanging on. As I looked around further, I saw holes in the ground where the rocks had been ripped from the ground.
Some of the residents of the camp were peeking out of their tents, looking at me in awe. "Oh bloody hell," I muttered, dropping my head in my hands and massaging my forehead. I was never going to live this down.
A/N: Yeah, a little of Emrys' power leaking through, I love me some badass!Merlynn. That said, I'm really curious what you all think about this chapter and what you think is going to happen. So leave me a review and let me know!