I was about to be finished with my plate and ready to go dance with my wife when Merlin came over. "Sire..." He rose his eyebrows at me and I narrowed mine at him.
"Merlin, what is it?"
"Do you remember Jacus from earlier today?" He whispered, and my eyes went wide with understanding.
I leaned over to Gwen and told her that there was someone that Merlin wanted to introduce me to and she believed it. So, I followed Merlin to the side of the steps that led to the inside of the castle and there was a man wearing a mask that seemed to mimic a dark brown leaf which almost blended into his hair color. He was also wearing a dark green short sleeved shirt, light green vest with light brown embroidery, dark brown pants and black boots. He noticed me and bowed slightly. "Hello, young Pendragon."
"Jacus..." I replied simply, not knowing what else to say to a druid who just waltzed into a festival where most if not everyone would see him executed for just existing.
"I have a few of my people here with me tonight and don't worry, I will keep to my word. No innocents will be harmed by the druids. However..."
"The other sorcerers are here aren't they?" I questioned with a heavy sigh. He answered me with a simple nod and I looked around at my guests and I have to agree that there were definitely more people than there should've been but I can't tell by how much. "Do you know how many?"
"No, Sire. At best I can guess there are at least four here with us in the court yard and at least two in the lower town."
I looked back at Jacus who was seemingly ready for me to ask more questions and then I turned my gaze at Merlin, and I noticed that he hadn't said anything since we met up with him. "Merlin, you alright?"
"Yes, it's just that...Jacus, how do you know there are that many enemy sorcerers if everyone is wearing masks?"
"Because, unfortunately the ones I've mentioned are druids who seem to be enchanted somehow by Morgana."
"Wait...how do you know they are druids?"
"I could hear them...in my mind."
"Can all druids do this?"
"No. Only Emrys can communicate like this with all of us."
"That name again. Are you sure you can't tell me more?"
"Not about Emrys. All things reveal themselves in time...now, what would you like to do about the sorcerers?"
"Have you heard them...think...about why they're here?" I questioned, still finding it a bit awkward that he can read minds.
"They were sent here under Morgana's orders to help 'retake' the throne."
"Of course they are, and I don't suppose they talked about how many saxons there were did they?"
"No, Sire."
"Fine...um...I don't know a whole lot about your people so could you tell me how many your brought with you and if they have any specialties in anything?"
"Gladly, young Pendragon. There are five of us here in the courtyard and four in the lower town. The five here in the courtyard are my self, my wife, our clan leader, and my two sisters. In the lower town we have the clan leader's children. Three grown men and a young woman. we all master in a special area of magic; Myself, I am a master of illusion magic, My wife is a master in both fire magic and enchantments, our clan leader masters in protection and earth magic, my two sisters are both healers."
"What about your clan leader's children?" I asked with wide eyes, astonished at all the areas of magic I never knew there were.
"The three boys, John, Mikial, and Arond all use protection magic as well as illusion magic and while her daughter Iriah knows little healing magic, she is the best scout we have, and she is an expert with a bow."
"Wait, you mean you all actually use bows and swords?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't we?"
"Um, never mind...so...that was a lot more than what I knew yesterday."
"I believe it was time for you to know. It feels like destiny has chosen it to be time you knew this."
"Destiny?"
"Yes, destiny. Now, it's up to you, Arthur Pendragon. Will you accept our help with your sorcerer problem?"
"What will you do after this is all done?"
"If everything goes well and we drive them away we will go back to our camp and move on until our clan leader says other wise."
"Really, just like that, you'll leave?"
"Yes, if everything goes well, and until it does go well you're stuck with us."
"What about this Emrys person you're talking about?"
"What about him?"
"Well, if you treat him like a king does that mean you do as he says? Is his word above your clan leader's?"
"You ask a lot of questions about those with magic, despite being a Pendragon."
"Well, I have both sorcerers sent from Morgana and druids in not only my kingdom at the moment, but in the courtyard and lower town surrounded by nobles. I think today can be a day to ask questions."
He laughed and nodded his head as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Fair point, but I already told you I can't tell you anything else about Emrys."
"Did he ask you not to tell me anything about him?"
"Many times." He smiled up at me, eyes focused.
"Are you afraid of him?"
"No, but I do respect him and why he wouldn't want you to know. Now, my turn to ask a question...why the sudden interest in him?"
"I know next to nothing about a man who is treated like a king of all magic users, and who is supposedly my protector. That's a dangerous sorcerer, and an untrustworthy man!"
"Hmm...Well, regardless, you have no hope of changing destiny at the moment. Both of you are stubborn fools. So, about the problem? I'm surprised they haven't done anything yet."
I looked above him and noticed the festivities were still going on and they were all still enjoying it and dancing. "That is rather strange...Merlin, what do you think we should do? We can't start a panic, otherwise that's a perfect opportunity for Morgana's forces to attack."
"You're asking me?" He stepped back in shock seemingly a lot paler than usual.
"Yes...Merlin, are you alright? You've been acting strange lately."
"Just tired, Sire." He said narrowing his eyes at me before he turned his gaze back out to the guests. "We should find the nobles we are most familiar with and alert them of the danger, but to not act before we need them to."
"Why the ones we are most familiar with? Any of the nobles should do?"
"There are at least three nobles I personally don't recognize and I've been to every Melee and every feast you've been to. I wouldn't be able to guess if they are allied with Morgana or if they are allied with those who are allied with her."
"You actually make a fair point. So who all do we absolutely know?"
"Right now only the king of Mercia and Queen Annis."
"Surely we invited more allies than that!"
"We did but they didn't show. I don't know why."
"Very well. The two of you, come with me. We'll warn them together, and let them know that a select few know of what the situation is."
We warned The king of Mercia he understood and he subtly alerted his own knights in such a way that no one would've been able to tell it was anything but a normal conversation. After that we made it to who I recognized to be Queen Annis I politely cleared my throat. "Queen Annis?" I asked and she turned around and smiled as she removed her mask.
"King Arthur? You did well facing my champion, and you've done exceptionally well on this party of yours."
"Apparently not as exceptional as I would like, your majesty." I replied with a low bow of my head.
"What do you mean?" She questioned as she practically stared daggers into my soul.
"I would like you to meet a man by the name of Jacus. He has alerted me to a threat that is in the middle of the festivities."
She smiled at me and for some reason I felt an inkling of confusion and like I had been made a fool. "Good to see you again, Jacus."
"You as well, Queen Annis." I looked over to Jacus and he was giving a dramatic bow.
"Are you aware that he is a druid?"
My eyes went wide and my jaw dropped slightly as I quickly looked around to make sure no one heard it. "Yes, and even if I wasn't, why would you ask me something like that knowing the law here in Camelot?"
"You are different from your father. Where Morgana is cut from the same cloth, you have made yourself a careful knife that is slowly tearing at the fabric of your royal blood line. Now, what is this threat of Morgana's?"
"She apparently has manipulated a few druid sorcerers and disguised them into my own party and we don't know how many non druids there are, but they're here and they mean to attack during the party. I will subtly alert my best knights of the danger and Jacus already has a few of his own people here, all we need to do is wait for an attack."
"If you wait for an attack you wait for the possibility of either someone from your kingdom getting hurt or possibly killed...or that happening to someone from a neighboring kingdom that you invited here. It would do you know good to wait for an attack. There will be casualties, yes, but you should not wait for one."
I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration and desperation before I calmed my breathing and looked back up at her. "Then what do you suggest?"
"I suggest an illusion of sorts."
"Wait...hold on...I thought you were against magic." Merlin spouted out in what seemed to be a form of curiosity and caution, though I know not why.
"Ah, the fool. Good to see you again, and yes, I am against magic, however, I am not against the druids. They have proven in my kingdom to be useful as well as peaceful. Now, as I was saying, an illusion of sorts...Jacus, can you make an illusion of you getting hit by something magical and violent?"
"Aye, I can do that. Scared my wife nearly to death with something like that...the clan leader punished me after that. She gets more creative the angrier she gets."
"Alright, do that. Merlin, go with Jacus to alert his clan members of the plan so that they don't react rashly."
"Um...Arthur?" Merlin asked as he looked back and forth between me and Queen Annis.
"Do as she asks, Merlin. I'll let Gwen know." Once he ran off I let out a breath of air I hadn't realized I was holding until I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"No need. I heard about it from one of Lord Bayard's knights who happened to be next to me at the time."
"Great that makes this simple." Queen Annis beamed. "Now, while they are gone I need the two of you to alert your best and most trusted knights of what's to happen. It is highly likely that after the illusion of an attack is made, the rest will think their orders have been to attack then and there and the rest will try and follow suit. This way, you can alert as many able body men as possible and there are fewer casualties."
"Thank you, Queen Annis! What will you do?"
"Me? I will alert my people. Even my servants are considered able body men. Good luck young king. It has been a wonderful festival." She bowed and made her way through the crowds in search of her own people, while Gwen and I made it to ours.