Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter sixteen: The war against sorcery.
Taliesin watched everyone as they sat thinking about all they had just seen. They had just seen all Merlin's main adventures from his first year in Camelot, other stuff had happened but nothing as important as what he had shown them and told them.
Gaius was looking proud, he knew Merlin had killed Nimueh but Merlin had never told him how.
Gwen was slightly shocked, they all knew Merlin had a great power, but she never dreamed it would be that powerful.
Elyan was surprised, if some had come up to him before all this started and said Merlin had magic that powerful he would have laughed and told them not to insult his friend.
Leon was pleased, Merlin had protected Arthur, where no other could, and his loyalty was beyond fault.
Percival had a better understanding, he knew what Lancelot meant now, when he told him of Merlin.
Gwaine was over the moon, Merlin had trusted him enough to tell him about his father and the dragons without having Taliesin show him first and it felt great to know Merlin trusted him as a brother not just a friend.
Isolde was amazed at the power Merlin had at his command, he truly was powerful.
Tristan was mostly awed, Merlin just learnt to control life and death after only a couple of days after learning the power existed.
Arthur was still troubled, he felt betrayed Merlin, his best friend, hadn't trusted him, when he trusted Merlin with everything. But he missed Merlin greatly even if he wouldn't admit it.
"I have a question," Percival asks. "When Merlin defeated Nimueh, he didn't use a spell. Why was that?"
"Merlin is a warlock." Gaius answers. "He does not need spells to do most forms of magic. What you watched Merlin do was elemental, Merlin does not need spells to control the elements or the weather. He only needs spells for magic more complicated than what he has as an instinct."
Percival nodes. "So warlock are born with magic and can practice it from the day they are born?"
Gaius shrugs. "Merlin, is the first to be born like that. Many born with magic cannot use it until they are above five years old. Merlin truly is unique."
"Merlin is king of the druids," Leon speaks up. "So why was he working as a servant? When he should have servants of his own."
"Merlin did not know he was king of the druids, he thought the respect they showed him was only due to his destiny at the time and the level of magic he had." Taliesin answers.
"Does that mean even if Merlin can return to Camelot, that he won't? If he is king he must stay with his people." Gwen asks.
Taliesin shakes his head. "Being the king of a kingdom and being king of a religious group are different. Merlin is the leader of his people, not a land. The way you rule over a land, is different to the way you rule over a group of people who could live in different kingdoms, much like the druids did. If Merlin wished he could return to Camelot any time he wished."
Everyone nodes, since they had been in the cave they had seen Merlin, twice. He had quite clearly been in the castle, looking for Gaius. Merlin would return if he wanted even if it was against the law.
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"I am sorry, but you will not learn of Merlin's other adventures today," Taliesin speaks up. "You will be needed back in Camelot shortly. But there is one thing I must show you first….. I'm afraid Gaius will be the only one who can hear what is spoken, due to the fact there is still things you have to learn, but you may watch. You may return tomorrow and we will continue our story."
Arthur nodes. "We will return tomorrow."
Taliesin smiles. "Well then, let us begins."
Merlin stood leaning against a wall in a wide hallway, watching out the window. He was dressed no different from normal apart from the midnight blue cloak he was wearing, it had a crest none of them had seen before. Merlin sighs and turns so he has his back to the wall and slides to the floor, he puts his head in his hands and shuts his eyes. Along the hall from him Alice and Hunith appear and quickly make their way towards him. Merlin doesn't even bother to look up.
"Merlin, are you okay?" Alice asks. While Hunith sits down beside her son.
"Yeah," Merlin answers. "I just wish Gaius was here. I could really use his support."
Hunith smiles slightly. "Gaius is busy, he has duties in Camelot."
"I know," Merlin sighs. "But I still wish he was here."
Alice smiles slightly. "I know he would be proud of you, Merlin. You mean the world to him, he'll be disappointed he missed this. But he is court physician, he has a job to do."
Hunith quickly gets to her feet and Merlin quickly follows. "Your father would be so proud of you." She whispers kissing Merlin forehead.
Merlin smiles. "I wish he was here, too."
Hunith smiles. "I know he'll be watching you and the pride he will feel…."
Alice smiles. "We will see you later, Merlin, we must take our place in the hall."
"Make sure you get a good spot." Merlin grins.
Alice and Hunith quickly make their way to the hall, leaving Merlin once again on his own.
"Arrr," A voice behind Merlin sounds. "I see you haven't run away yet."
Merlin turned to see Gilli and Daegal walking towards him. "Run away?" Merlin asked. "Why would I want to run away?"
"Well who would want to be king?" Gilli asked.
Merlin rolled his eyes. "Funny."
Gilli grins. "In a matter of moments I'll be able to tell everyone, I'm friends with the king of the druids."
Merlin shakes his head. "It's not that impressive."
"But it is," Daegal answers. "The druids are a powerful people."
"I know," Merlin answers. "I just hope I won't let them down."
Gilli grins. "You know the difference between wrong and right, Merlin. You will be a good ruler, you do not let people talk you into things and you always look at the big picture."
"How did you work that out?"
"You stopped me from killing Uthur. If I had killed him, Camelot would have been attacked by its enemies because they would have believed the kingdom to be weak. Plus to kill the king, who was defenceless against magic was wrong. To kill someone in a fight, it must be a fair one. Killing in cold blood only leads to trouble."
Merlin sighs. "I guess so."
Daegal smiles. "We better be going, I want a place to stand right at the front, it's not every day the king of the druids is crowned."
Merlin just shakes his head. "I'll see you later then."
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Merlin walked towards the door of the main hall of the tower, but stopped not far from the doors. He still felt nervous, he was about to become king of the druids. An ancient race of people with more knowledge than Merlin could ever dream of having. What if he failed his people? He had failed them in the past, he had stood by and watch them die because he was too scared of what Arthur would do if he ever found out.
"You will not fail us, Emrys."
Merlin spins round only to come face to face with Iseldir. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because you are Merlin." Iseldir answers.
"What?"
"You are not just some all-powerful warlock, you have a heart and you trust it. You rule with your head and your heart and you do what you believe to be right. The fears you have you overcome. You healed Isolde because you could not bear to see the pain it caused her lover. You are wise beyond your years and you risk everything to save the ones you care about. We could not choice a better leader."
"But I know nothing about being king."
"Ruling over a religious group and over a kingdom are two totally different things, Merlin Emrys. You will do fine, once you have learnt the way of life we have. Much like you rule this land."
"I do not," Merlin answers. "We have a council the rules the land and I am part of that council."
Iseldir smiles slightly. "It is much the same with the druids, each elder rules their clan, order or cult. But you rule over them, like the head councilman. When we are in trouble we turn to you for help and guidance, we turn to you for protection and to make sure no matter what kingdom we enter we are safe."
Merlin smiles. "I think I can do that."
"You can do that, Merlin Emrys, because it is in your heart to protect and care for all living things."
And so Merlin was crowned king of the druids.
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Arthur sat on his throne, around him the council had gathered. The knights, Gwen, Gaius, Tristan and Isolde were also present. There had been reports of a couple of sorcerers attacking a Camelot patrol not far from the borders with Queen Annis's lands and a second attack on a village, on the opposite side of kingdom. And many in the city and castle had seen a person in a midnight blue cloak sneaking around and slipping past guards. Arthur sighs, as the first witness is bought forward: the village elder of the village attacked.
"My lord." The man bows.
Arthur nodes. "Tell me what happened."
"Well you see, my lord, it started when we found a witch enchanting someone from our village. She claimed she was healing them, but I know witchcraft when I see it. She tried to burn her, as the law states, but two young sorcerers came out the forest and put out the flames. The one who put out the flames yelled in the devils tongue and his eyes flashed gold. He jumped up and cut the witch down while the second on caught her. Before we could catch them, they vanished in a whirlwind. Our village is lucky it is still standing, the wind wiped up the small flames left from the fire and caught many of our houses. Half our village was burnt down and winds also caused injury to many of our people. I have no doubt that the sorcerer meant us great harm."
"When did this happen?" Arthur asks.
"Two days ago, my lord."
Gaius gasps slightly and Gwen grips his hand, the witch they had tried to burn was no doubt Alice. Arthur glances at Gaius, before turning back to the villager.
"Can you tell me what this sorcerer looked like?"
The villager nodes. "He had black hair, blue eyes, skin as pale as the dead. He had a blue scarf, red top and brown jacket, he wore a cloak of dark blue, it was almost black. But his eyes they flashed with the devils magic, you would never have believed he was a sorcerer if you hadn't seen his power."
Arthur nodes. "Thank you, for telling me. I wish you and your village the best of luck with the repairs."
The villager bows and leaves. Next to enter are the patrol who had been attacked.
"My lord." They bow.
Arthur nodes. "What is it you wish to report?"
"We were attacked by a sorcerer on our way back to Camelot, my lord." One of them answers. "They had a great power."
"Do you know who this sorcerer was?" Arthur asks.
"Yes, I do, my lord." A second one answers. "It was the traitor, Merlin."
As the knight said that all the Knights of the Round Table placed their hands on their swords. Arthur glanced at them, even Gwen looked ready to attack the knight who had spoken. They all knew Merlin was no traitor.
"You are dismissed," Arthur replies. "Get any injuries you have looked at, you can return to work in a weeks' time. By then you should all have recovered from you injuries and be fit for work."
As the patrol left, Arthur noticed all the servants present were glaring at them, if looks could kill they would be dead ten times over. It didn't surprise Arthur that the servants would be on Merlin side, Merlin knew almost ever servant in the castle and most of the castle guards too. Arthur sighed as the council began speaking all at once.
"SILENCE!" Arthur yells.
The council fall silent and all look at their king.
"My lord," one of them speak up. "I think it would be a good idea if you continue the war on sorcerer like your father. Since you have become king, you have made peace with the druids and have not hunted those who practice the dark arts. Look what has happened, two attacks. We are lucky that no one has died."
Gaius glares at the man who had spoken. "Uthur was a great king. But he hunted and chased those with magic to try and free himself from his guilt. Arthur has made peace with the druids to try and heal the wounds created by Uthur and his hatred. The druids are a strong ally to have, they are peaceful and can heal better than even I."
The councilman glares at Gaius. "The druids and all like them practice the devils magic and ways. I have heard that they now have a king, who is to start forming alliances with many of the other kingdoms. We must kill him before he can enchant all our allies against us."
Before Gaius can reply, Geoffrey speak up. "The druid king, Emrys, is a man of peace. His name has been written in old scrolls. The coming of Emrys has been foreseen since the start of time, he will not harm a kingdom because they do not practice magic. He is the protector of all those with magic, the last high priest of the of the triple goddess, his birth was blessed by the gods of old. From what I have heard spoken today, the sorcerer who saved the women from burning was no doubt Emrys," He turns to Arthur. "You servant who saved Isolde, is Merlin Emrys. He is king of the druids."
Arthur was slightly taken aback that Geoffrey knew this. He had listened to a couple of witnesses and worked out Merlin was king of the druids. "Are you sure?" Arthur asks, trying to hide the true reason for his shock.
Geoffrey nodes. "I am sure, my lord. I never once said, but Merlin magic I knew about."
"How did you know?" Arthur asks.
"Cornelius Sigan," Geoffrey answers. "He was the most powerful sorcerer to have lived. There was only one with the power to defeat him and that is Emrys. Gaius and Merlin were the two who returned Sigan's soul. I know Gaius is not Emrys, so that left Merlin."
The council then went in to up roar, all yelling and shouting, demanding that Arthur do something about the new threat. Many were also angry that Geoffrey knew Merlin had magic and never told Uthur. Some even called for his execution.
"Council dismissed." Arthur yells and the council quickly leave.
Gaius looks at Arthur. "Declaring war on sorcerer, sire, will be a grave mistake."
"But what can I do, Gaius. The council will not agree with doing nothing and to do so will have them yelling I have been enchanted."
"Maybe once you see Merlin again he will have some idea of what to do," Gwen answers. "He knows the fear many have of magic and he will know the best way to deal with it."
Arthur sighs. "Then I hope we see him soon, because if I declare war on magic by force of the council…. We will never have peace."
Hey all, hope you liked that chapter. Let me know what you think. The next chapter will be going back to the story telling of Merlin's adventures, I'm going to try a new way of writing it, so when the next chapters are up feel free to comment,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.