Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Chapter fourteen: Merlin Emrys, king of the druids.
Merlin stood looking out of the window in his room in the tower. Behind him, his room was very much like Gaius's back in Camelot. The walls were lined with magic books, herbs and crystals hung from the ceiling and his work benches were covered in half finished projects. He had only had the room for less than a day, no wonder Gaius was always saying most of the mess belonged to him.
Up the back of the room were a couple of steps leading to his bedroom, close to them were a set of steps leading out on to a balcony. He really was beginning to feel at home here, but he missed his friends and he missed Camelot. Standing against the wall near the door, were two staffs. One was the staff of Emrys. In Merlin's hand was a letter from Avalon, he had a job to do. But that job could wait until things had calmed down, he couldn't keep entering Camelot every time he had a job to do.
One day he might be followed back here, he defiantly didn't need Camelot declaring war on his new home. Plus it wouldn't be long until king Sarrum found out about this land, he hatred for sorcerer was well known and many feared him much like they feared Uthur. Merlin had already been told by Alator that he needed to form alliance's with as many kingdoms as he could, the first he was to speak to was queen Annis.
Merlin rolled his eyes and moved away from the window and sat at one of his work benches. Around him were piles of magic books, homework for missing most of his lessons today. It really wasn't fair he hadn't chosen to miss them, well he sort of had when he decided to show Gwaine around, but still it was unfair. It had seemed the head of each magical group had taken him as their apprentice and he had no say in the matter.
Alator had even ordered that Merlin learn dark magic, he was not pleased. Alator had said he must learn all arts and no magic was truly dark. You could rise an army of the dead to kill everyone and it would be evil; but you could also rise it to protect a defenceless village against raiders. But Alator had warned him that some magic could be used for dark things, such as necromancy. Merlin knew a bit about necromancy, he had been forced to learn about it when Lancelot was bought back as a shade. Blood magic was also evil, but he had to learn about them. If he was to be able to counter-spell them and defended him self, he had to know what he was up against.
Merlin picked up his first book: 'The complete guide to healing magic'. Merlin had never before seen a book so thick, it weighed a ton too. No doubt Gaius and Alice had given him this book, after all it was the subject Merlin was weakest in. The best he could do was heal broken bones and cure people who had been poisoned, but flesh wounds…. Merlin could only just about heal them if they were on someone else, but even then he had, had trouble healing Arthur in the past.
Merlin opened the book, a small inscription was at the top: 'Merlin, because you are hopeless at healing magic and I had always hoped you would take an interest in my line of work, Gaius. A gift to say thank you for saving me from the flames, we'll make a physician from you yet, Alice.' Merlin smiled and opened it to his first lesson. After a couple of hours reading and studying Merlin rests his head on the table, his head felt like it would explode with the level of new information he had just learnt. Healing magic truly was complicated. With a sigh he starts the next lesson.
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Merlin walked through the court yard, trying to clear his head. He felt ready to give up on healing magic. Why you needed different spells for wounds inflicted by different weapons he didn't know. If you got shoot by an arrow that came from a cross bow you had to use one spell, but if it came from a long bow you had to use a different spell. They were both arrows! What did it matter if they came from different weapons? Merlin sighs, Gaius was also forcing him to learn normal healing too. Truth be told Merlin knew most of it already, he had lived with Gaius for years and time and time again he had been forced to learn it, to treat his own wounds.
'Emrys.' A voice greets him, in his head.
Merlin spins round, but can see no druids. 'Where are you?'
'We are near the entrance to the tower courtyard. You must come quickly, Emrys, we have an important matter to speak about.'
"Okay, I'm on my way.'
Merlin quickly made his way through the courtyard towards where the druids said they would meet him. He finds them standing near the gate, all the druids elders were present.
"Emrys." The one who had called him greeted.
"Iseldir." Merlin answers. "You wished to speak with me?"
"I do." Iseldir answers. "For you, Merlin Emrys, are the king of the druids."
"What?" Merlin asks.
"You are our king." Iseldir answers. "All here with me today are the elders of each of the druid orders. You are our king and now it is time all the world knows that. Before we could not tell you, for fear Uthur would find out, he had been hunting for you even if you didn't know it was you. It is time you take your crown and place as our leader."
Merlin shakes his head. "I don't know the first thing about ruling people."
Iseldir smiles. "You know more than enough, my lord. You are wise and merciful, we could not ask for a better leader."
Merlin looks at Iseldir and the other elders. "I have no choice do I."
"That you do not, Emrys. You will be our king even if you refuse the crown."
Merlin sighs. "Let's just get this over with. I guess it can't be all bad, right?"
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Merlin knelt on the ground, before the throne in the main hall of the tower. Around him many sorcerers and druids stood, all here for the crowning of Merlin Emrys the king of the druids. Once Merlin was crowned he would have to go to the crystal caves, which really annoyed Merlin. Whenever he entered the cave, he could feel it's power pulling at him, wanting to show him visions.
He would have to sit there until the power of the crystal cave awakened a power Merlin had that was as old as the earth its self. Merlin was a being of pure magic, he was all forms of magic and he had ever gift, even that of a seer if he practiced the seer art. Merlin's cloths were no different to normal, he even had his red scarf. The only difference was his midnight blue cloak had a silver crest on it, the crest of the druids.
"Do you Merlin Emrys, last high priest of the old religion and the triple goddess, swear an oath to the gods to protect and serve your people, from his day forth."
"I swear." Merlin answers.
"Do you, Merlin Emrys, last dragon lord, swear an oath to the gods to show wisdom and kindness in all acts you do, from this day forth."
"I swear."
"Do you, Merlin Emrys, the immortal, swear an oath to the gods to rule this land with justice and mercy and honour in your judgement, from this day forth."
"I swear."
"Then by the power of the gods, I crown thee, Merlin Emrys, king of the druids."
The crown of pure silver was placed on Merlin's head, it was no fancy crown covered in jewels. It had been forged by magic itself. Merlin gets to his feet and turns to face the people in the room, he is handed his staff of white wood and he smiles slightly.
"Long live the king." Everyone yells as one.
Merlin almost laughed at the irony, he was immortal, he would never die.
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Hey hope you liked that chapter. Hopefully I'll have the next one up soon. Does anyone know the name of the perilous lands? I've only heard it called the land of the fisher king or the perilous lands. So until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.