Hehehe Hi there my lovely readers and inspiration. I would like to thank you all for your reviews especially my guests with which I wish I could thank 'personally' but alas cannot because they cannot PM. *sigh* oh well you understand here is another chapter. Your reading is enough for me but i do like reviews... yes, yes I do... oh by the way lots of old tongue in here I am going to put translations at he bottom but you'll get it.
"Magic is forbidden here." Fawn turned and looked at Arthur scared. Artemis turned her head and looked at him. Her eyes flickered with purple flames. They gleamed with protectiveness for her niece.
"You won't touch her… because if you do… first, I'll run you through, and then if that doesn't work…I'll make sure my brother declares war. I don't think you're going to want to go to war with us. We don't exactly fight, 'conventionally'." Artemis's lips were curled back into a snarl and her fangs seemed even more pronounced. They hadn't even noticed her sword in her hands, the sword point bouncing in circles. Her hand was tight on the pommel of her sword.
"I'm sorry did I do something wrong? Why do you not like magic?" The innocence of the question surprised Arthur. Her hood was off and he saw the girl's large curls wrapping around her face, and her emerald eyes seemed so innocent and fearful. Her skin was pale and not a scar was visible on her face. She was so pure… how could anything like her be all bad?
Artemis ran to her niece and engulfed her small frame in a hug. "No little one. The only thing you shouldn't have done was tie up Austin. You're gift is not bad. Don't ever think that." Artemis shot Arthur and to Merlin's surprise a warning glare.
"That does not answer my other question." Her green eyes bore into Arthur's sky blue with flickers of fear and curiosity flashing through them.
"Uhh… well, both of my parents died because of magic… that's why…"
Her eyes grew wide and her lips curved into a gentle O. "I'm sorry I did not mean to offend you, but… I can't stop myself from having it as much as I could have prevented my own birth."
"So wise for one so small… and yet so foolish." all their heads snapped to the side. A tall bulky man was leading a horse into the clearing. His hood concealed most of his face. He smiled and his fangs were clearly visible one was broken in half. "Young lady I think you have a LOT of explaining to do."
"Hello Austin." Artemis said.
He bowed quickly. "My Lady… I see she's already found trouble." he was looking around at the clearing. He noticed the man laying on the ground now still with his hand clutching his side. His lips twitched strangly.
"Yes, but she will be fine now." Artemis stood with a hand still around Fawn protectively.
"And I'm assuming these are the honorable knights of Camelot." He gave a sweeping bow pushing his cloak behind him. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard great things about you… but I doubt we'll get along." He gave them a sad smile.
"And why is that?" asked Gwaine. Austin chuckled.
"Well my friend… for one you are not really very pleasant to my kind. Second, I won't let anything happen to those two right there." His hand and head lazily gestured to Artemis and Fawn. "I know your laws and I know their punishments."
"Then why come?" Gwaine questioned. He chuckled again a little darkly. He pulled his hood off and folded his arms.
"I think that's a little obvious My Lord." Gwaine looked over at the little girl he knew he protected and he cringed a little at the title.
"Oh."
"Yeah, oh." He laughed and smiled widely. He faced his queen again. "My Lady I will gladly take her home now, if it so pleases you?"
"Yes, Austin that would be very helpful. Fawn you are going home now. You will be good and not follow me. Do you understand?" Fawn shuffled her feet and stared at the ground with her brow furrowed and frowning angrily.
"Yes ma'am."
"Good girl." She gently pushed her towards Austin.
"Come along my little deer. Your father is worried about you." he took hold of her hand and helped her onto his horse. Her frown disappeared for a moment as she waved goodbye.
"Thank you again and I am very sorry." Arthur realized her apology wasn't just for Percival. Austin took hold of the reins and led the horse away.
"Fawn why do you always tie me up? Couldn't you just sneak out like a normal little girl?" Artemis chuckled at Austin's retreating statement. 'She's going to convince him to follow us, I'd bet money on it.' She turned to the king of Camelot.
"Now about that quest of yours?" Arthur's head snapped toward her with a look of humorous surprise.
"That's the first thing you ask after a fight for your niece?"
Merlin snickered behind Arthur.
"Yes Arthur I plan on coming with you even without your consent." She smirked at them all.
"Ugh!" Arthur's arms flew up in a very unkingly fashion. "Fine. Let's get back to the camp." he turned on his heels and they headed back to their campsite.
They sat in silence as the queen sat in a tree a little aways from them. They could hear her singing softly. Her voice rose and fell with a beautiful cadence. Merlin left the fire and his friends out of curiosity. The song was in the old tongue and he wanted to understand it better. Her voice was very beautiful and captivating. He didn't even notice that the rest of his companions had followed him. The song was happy but filled with a resolute sadness. The notes were long and calming to the soul but aroused some unknown feeling within him.
"Se undèadlìc drÿ, se undèadlìc
Se Sæl ond Tóweardness Brytencyning.
Sang sylfum se Drakonágend's afol,
Álynian se gerar sylfum drakon æledfyr,
Hlíep tó selfwill fylst.
Hredding pá in Albion fram se undóm sylfum anda.
O, undéalíc,
O, drycræftig drÿ,
Álynian selfwill rídend sige ofer atol
O, Emrys, swéte Emrys undéalíc ond bilewit,
Aheordan se holt ond híe bróõorlufu geagnian.
Lyblác, sy ne anné,
Náhwæõer béon unc.
Wé abiddan beorõor sylfum lyblác,
Wé abiddan lyblác in beorõor,
Áhreddan se bilewit feora
For Albion sy æt rúmlíce "
She fell silent after the song ended. Merlin jumped when Percival spoke.
"What does it mean?" She looked at them with a sad smile.
"I'll sing it for you in the common tongue if you'd like." Merlin looked at the three other men as they nodded with him. Her leg was swinging back and forth as she leaned on the tree trunk.
"Very well," she cleared her throat and began.
"The immortal magician, the immortal.
The Once and Future King
Sing of the dragonlord's might,
Let the roars of dragon flame leap to his aid.
Free those in Albion from the injustices of anger.
O, immortal
O, skilled warlock
Let his knights triumph over evil
Oh Emrys, sweet Emrys immortal and pure,
Set the forest and her loved ones free.
Magic is not alone
Neither are you.
We pray born of magic,
We pray magic in birth,
Save the simple souls
For Albion is at large…" she stared at Merlin and Arthur. Arthur's mind was mulling over the song. 'The Once and Future King where had he heard that before? Oh right… Merlin had called him that multiple times and then there was this Emrys… the one Morgana was afraid of…'
"Such a sad song for such a great prophecy, no?" Her sad smile played across her face. "I can sing you another but I would first have to sing it in the old tongue if you don't mind…"
"Please My Lady sing another." Percival looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes he hadn't heard songs like that in a very ling time.
"As you wish…" She cleared her throat again. It started soft and picked up speed as she went. You could almost hear the sounds of drums as she sang.
"Rád rídends sylfum Camelot
Se gold drakon cíegere!
Heíran se blædhornas sylfum beadu
Álynian Excalibur sang híe cargealdor!
Árísan ærist drycræftig, drÿ, ond lyblác
Árænan se háligdóm geborgen
Emrys úre sylfum brytencyning in heorte polc segen.
Camelot hwa polc iæõest ús,
nú dón úre fylst.
Rád lædnes in beadu.
Ÿõe úre sweords ærist.
Sé gold drakon gerar
Befylgan hine ond sé Drakonágend!"
"It's … beautiful… would you sing it for us to understand?" Percival asked in a whisper. The song almost demanded reverence. She seemed to feel the same. She nodded quietly and stared at the stars. Her fingers drumming on the bark of the branches above her.
"Ride knights of Camelot
The gold dragon calls!
Hear the trumpets of war
Let Excalibur sing it's song!
Rise up sorcerers, magicians, and magic
Keep the holy safe
Emrys our king in heart has spoken.
Camelot who has shunned us,
Now needs our help.
Ride forth in battle.
Wave your swords high.
The gold dragon roars
Follow him and the dragonlord…" The song drifted off echoing in the night air. Her gaze never left the star ridden sky. "íc wundor…" she whispered quietly.
Merlin raised and eyebrow subtly. 'I wonder, I wonder what?' She chuckles to herself. Her purple eyes were sparkling as she looked over at them her smile more happy than sad.
"What do you mean by dragonlord? Balinor is dead… he was the last dragonlord." Her face fell.
"Then fate has failed and the world should crumble under it's weight. Fate is never meant to fail and prophesies are meant to come true." She jumped from the tree right in front of them. Not a sound escaped her when she hit the ground. "So… he must have had a son. You never know somehow his powers could have passed onto a girl. Fate loves to play with the minds of men." She smiled and walked past patting Arthur and Gwaine on the shoulder as she passed them. Arthur's mouth was wide open. Merlin almost laughed at the irony. 'Don't be such a girl Merlin!' reverberated in his head.
"Well I think we've had enough lullabies. Time for bed." She crawled into a sleeping mat she had laid out near the fire. Merlin shook his head in amazed amusement.
"I'll be first watch."
"Alright, wake one of us in a couple of hours and holler if anything feels wrong," was the response from Arthur as he, Gwaine, and Percival climbed into their own bedrolls a little away from her. He had a lot to think about.
It was a bird of pray. Smaller than most falcons. It's yellow black talons were long and sharp, clutching to her leather brace. She gently stroked the soft feathers of the back of it's gray, white, and brown speckled head. It turned it's black gaze looking onto her kind purple eyes. She mimicked the falcons voice bringing her head close. It cocked it's head. One intelligent eye fixed on her calmly. 'What a pretty bird you are.' her lips twitched upwards. Messenger birds always made her happy. She loved birds, she always had, but this particular bird was different for some reason. It stared at her knowingly.
"What are you going to show me Merlin?" she whispered. It turned it's head away from her quickly. It's spotted wings moved and it shifted in her grasp. "Hmm, shy are we? I know it's really you." No response she hadn't expected one. She shifted the bird from one arm to the other.
"You know Merlin I had a bird just like this when I was younger." she absentmindedly pet the bird's stomach. "He was beautiful. My father hated him though. Always getting into his things. Eating his pet snake." she shrugged and laughed at the memory. She had lowered herself carefully to the ground with the merlin still sitting patiently on her arm watching her carefully. "I loved that bird… but all things come to an end… make sure they don't end in a way you'll regret. Shadows always follow darkness because you cannot have light without dark."
She grew silent. Staring into space pondering the future. The merlin shifted again. She looked at the bird and smiled.
"What are you waiting for?" She raised an eyebrow. She swore the bird did too as it turned back to her. "You need to stop distracting yourself with me. The dreams of others should be left untouched unless you have good reason to be in them." The bird moved it's feet again and looked downward looking ashamed of itself. "Now don't start. Curiosity is man's greatest asset in finding truth, not too much mind you, but just enough can be helpful. Now go on." She threw the bird and it took off disappearing on the horizon. she chuckled to herself.
'A door opened can be entered both ways I hope you realize that.'
Yeah sorry thought this was a good stopping spot since i wasn't entirely finished with that little bit you guys are going to love it though. well here is that list of words.
Sæl- once/ time; time of happiness, Ond- and, Tóweardness- future, Brytencyning- powerful king, Drycræftig- skilled in magic or sorcery, drÿ- magician, sorcerer, Rídend- knight, Se- the, undèadlìc- immortal, Sang- song/singing, ágend- lord, Afol- might, Álynian- let, gerar- roar(s), Æledfyr- Flame, Hlíep- leap, Tó- to, selfwill- his, Fylst- help/aid, Hredding- free, liberate, Pá- those, fram-from, Undóm- injustice , anda- anger/ grudge/ malice or hatred, Sige- triumph, Ofer- over, Atol- evil, swéte- sweet, Bilewit- pure/simple, Aheordan- set free, Áhreddan- save, híe- her, bróõorlufu- love/ loved, geagnian- ones, Lyblác- magic, sy- is, ne- not , Anné- alone, Náhwæõer- neither, béon- are, Unc- you, wé- we, abiddan- pray/ask, beorõor- born/birth, Feora- souls, æt- at, rúmlíce- large, Rád- ride, cíegere- one who calls/ calls, Heíran- hear, blædhornas- trumpets, Beadu- war/battle, cargealdor- sorrowful song, Árísan- rise up, ærist- up/ high, Árænan- keep/ carry out, háligdóm- holy, geborgen- safe/ protected, úre- our/ your, sylfum- of, Heorte- heart, Polc- has, Segen- spoken/ prophesied, Hwa- who, Iæõest- shunned, ús- us, Nú- now, dón- needs, lædnes- forth, Ÿõe- wave, Sweord- sword, Befylgan- follow, Hine- him, Íc- I ,wundor- wonder
no you do not have to read it!