Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter seventeen: Merlin's apprentice.
Merlin walked through the valley of the fallen kings, it was about an hour after dawn and he had spent the whole night in the caves, with no sleep. Merlin glanced round, the earth around him seemed to be oozing magic and everything seemed more healthy. Merlin smiled, if only people could see how beautiful and peaceful magic could be.
All magic users had a place to call home now, but it would still be nice if the other kingdoms accepted magic. Merlin glanced at the sky tomorrow he would be meeting with queen Annis to talk about a treaty between the two kingdoms after that he would be speaking with the other kingdoms. It was possible he would talk to Arthur, but there was no way he was going anywhere near king Sarrum kingdom.
Merlin slaps his forehead, he had to get that letter to Gwaine's mother. Today was the last day he could do it, after today he was going to be busy, talking peace and none stop studying magic. Merlin sighed, he had the letter for Gwaine's mother with him, he had no idea why he had picked it up last night, but now he was glad he did. Merlin was sure Gwaine's mother lived not far from the border of queen Annis's kingdom, he had used a spell when he first got the letter to see where Gwaine's mother was, he was not going to waste time going from door to door in ever kingdom looking for her.
Behind him he could hear voices, quickly Merlin ducks behind a tree and waits. He watches as Arthur, Gwen, Elyan, Gwaine, Percival, Leon, Gaius, Isolde and Tristan pass. Pulling the hood of his cloak low over his face he quickly follows them. He ducks behind some rocks as they approach the entrance to the crystal cave. Taliesin is waiting for them. Merlin frowns for a moment then grins. It made sense now, how Gwaine knew so much. Gaius hadn't known that much about Will, Merlin had never spoken of him.
Merlin then took a step back in horror, if they were really watching his adventures, they were going to see everything. Merlin quickly turns and runs, he couldn't be caught here. They weren't ready to see him yet, to make matter worse, Arthur was going to find out the truth about his birth and that wasn't going to be a good thing. From what Gwaine had told him Arthur knew what Morgause had said was true, but not all the details. Merlin knew if Arthur didn't already hate him for lying about his magic, he would most likely hate him for lying about how his mother died.
Merlin could remember the betrayal he felt when he found out about his father, but he understood the reasons his mother had never told him, it was just too painful for her to speak about. Merlin smiled sadly, he remembered telling her about how his father had died. She had been so sad, but she said they would meet again in the afterlife, where the two of them would watch with pride as Merlin grew into the greatest warlock the world would ever know and both she and Merlin agreed that wouldn't be for many years yet. At last Merlin arrived at the side of a lake, the lake of Avalon.
"Soon," Merlin speaks. "I will come back and I will do what you have asked of me. But not yet. There is things I must do first."
The water rippled as if in reply. Merlin smiled slightly and turned away, he was hoping he could form peace with Camelot before he did what they had asked of him. He didn't want Camelot to declare war on Avalon. Knowing Arthur, he probably would try if he didn't accept magic. Merlin almost laughed at the thought of that, the beings of Avalon were immortal he would never win that war. Merlin could kill some of the beings from Avalon, not that he was proud of that. The job they had asked him to do would hopeful create peace between Avalon and Albion. Merlin sighed, all the jobs he was given seemed to be so important and would have an age of darkness if he failed.
"No pressure then." Merlin mutters.
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Smoke filled the air around Merlin, it was thick and made his eyes sting. The village around him was burning, the people who lived here, were long gone. Either burnt or finding shelter in the woods. Merlin had his scarf pulled up over his nose and mouth, he had a spell too, but still he could taste the smoke. The fire had been started with magic, Merlin could sense it. But he knew it hadn't been done on purpose, whoever did this had no control over their magic. To make it worse they were still here somewhere in the smoke, too scared to run.
'Help me.' A voice calls in Merlin's mind.
Merlin looks round, but can see nothing through the smoke. 'Where are you?'
'Help me, please, someone help me.' The voice pleads.
'Tell me where you are,' Merlin answers. 'And I will help you.'
'I don't know, there is too much smoke.' He voice answers.
Merlin sighs and raises his hands his eyes flash gold and the smoke cleared from the air. He would have done the spell sooner, but he couldn't risk drawing to much attention to himself, he was still within the Camelot borders. Not far from where Merlin was standing, a boy of nine years was hiding behind some boxes.
'Help me.' He calls.
Merlin looks round and spots him, he holds out his hand. 'Come here.'
The boy quickly gets to his feet and runs over to Merlin and grabs his hand. Through the gaps between the houses Merlin can see a patrol from Camelot making their way towards them, they hadn't been seen yet.
'Quickly,' Merlin mutters. 'We have to get out of here before we are seen.'
Merlin quickly leads the way into the forest, the boy follows quickly refusing to let go of Merlin's hand. Merlin glances at the boy as the two of them duck behind a tree. The boy he had just recued reminded him of Mordred, glancing around the tree Merlin watches the patrol, as they look at the damage. Merlin glanced down at the boy beside him.
'What is your name?' Merlin asked.
'Terrance.' The boy, Terrance answers.
'Well I'm Merlin.' Merlin grins, he watches as one of the patrol members looks in their direction. Merlin holds his breath, the man begins to walk in their direction. Glancing round Merlin spots a large pile of ash and half burnt wood.
"Perfect." Merlin whispers out loud. Terrance looks at him, then at the pile of wood and ash. Merlin holds out the hand Terrance isn't holding and mutters a spell, his eyes flash gold. The wood and ash rise from the ground and form the shapes of humans and start walking towards the Camelot patrol. The first one to spot them, yells and warning and they all draw their weapons. Merlin grins, like that's going to help. Beside him Terrance is just staring at Merlin in shock and awe, Merlin glances down at Terrance and grins.
'Can you teach me to do that?' Terrance asks.
Merlin nodes. 'If you want, but it takes years of study to be able to cast a spell as complex as that.'
'I can start fires when I'm scared.' Terrance whispers.
Merlin knells down beside Terrance. 'Did you start the fire?'
Terrance nodes and starts sobbing. 'I didn't mean to, I was scared.'
Merlin nodes. 'It's okay. When I was younger when I got upset I used to create storms. The lightning used to start fires and the rain would flood people's homes, the wind would be so powerful it would knock over trees and make the ground shake.' Merlin pulls Terrance into a hug, he knew how scary it was to have a power you don't understand.
'My father was like you,' Terrance sobs. 'He could do magic. He used to do tricks and make animals out of the fire, but men from Camelot came and killed him…. My mother was so scared they would do the same to me. But one day the other children started picking on me, I started a fire…. I didn't mean too. My mother told me to hide and a man killed my mother.'
Merlin sighs and looks back at the village. 'I can take you to the druids. I'm sure one would take you on as an apprentice.'
'Apprentice?'
'Yeah, it's were you are taught magic and other forms of study.'
'So I can be your apprentice?'
Merlin looks at Terrance. 'Yeah, I guess you can be. I haven't finished my studies yet, but I'm sure that won't be a problem.'
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Hey hoped you liked that, Merlin now has an apprentice! Next chapter should be up soon.
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.