"Arthur Pendragon," Alvarr called down to him. "You're a long way from home."
Arthur was so shocked at seeing the sorcerer again and so close at hand, that for a moment, he couldn't think what to respond. Then anger flared within him.
"And you're a long way from where I saw you last," he retorted. "In the dungeons of Camelot."
Alvarr smiled slightly at his words and the implied threat. "Much has changed since then," he called down gently.
Arthur could hear behind him the jingle of a horse's metal tack as an animal danced around and neighed nervously. He didn't need to turn to know that the horse belonged to Merlin. He could practically feel the waves of fear rolling off his servant himself, no wonder his horse was reacting to it. Part of him instinctively wanted to send Merlin away, but he knew that splitting their party wouldn't be the wisest choice at this juncture, and Alvarr had the advantage of height. He also probably knew the lay of the land, and may even have had more men in the woods around them. No, it was best they all stuck together.
"So," Alvarr went on. "You have come to find out who is the new ruler of Cenred's kingdom."
Arthur was momentarily confused. He hadn't imagined for a second that Alvarr would have any interest in why they were there. "Our business is our own," he shouted back up. "And we travel in peace. State what your purpose is here or be on your way. I do not wish to fight you today."
"And that would be a wise choice," Alvarr said, still relaxed, still focussed on Arthur. "As to my purpose, I have come to talk, nothing more."
"So talk," Arthur called.
"I wish to talk alone."
Arthur heard the incredulous sounds from his knights around him, and felt a small smile tug the corners of his mouth "Yeah, I don't think that's going to happen any time soon," he said. "Our past encounters haven't exactly filled me with enthusiasm for your trustworthiness."
"I do not ask you to trust me, prince regent. All I ask you to come with me a short distance from these others and simply listen."
"And why on earth would I want to do that?" Arthur scoffed.
"Because I can tell you everything you want to know about the new ruler of Cenred's kingdom," Alvarr said. "Whom I now serve."
That was unexpected. "You serve them and betray them in the same breath," Arthur pointed out
"It is no great secret," Alvarr said. "And you would soon find out in any case."
Arthur considered, glancing at Elyan next to him, and seeing Leon beside him as well, sword drawn. They both looked at him questioningly, wondering what he was going to do.
He looked back up the hill. "If I am to find out soon, then why would I talk to you? What can you tell me that I would not hear from others?" he wondered.
Alvarr's face expressed his impatience. "I can tell you that it is your sister, Arthur. And that she has given me a message for your ears, and your ears only."
At that, Arthur heard a few intakes of breath from around him. So Morgana was here, in Cenred's kingdom, and building a new army no doubt.
He fixed Alvarr with a look. This message was worth hearing. "If I am to talk to you, what guarantees do I have as to safety?" he shouted up.
"Arthur no!" Merlin cried from behind him, and one or two of the other knights also made noises of protest.
"You will keep your weapons," Alvarr said, smiling again. "My men will remain here, yours there. I can give you no more guarantee than that. You must simply decide what you wish more: this information, or a risk-free life. In which case I would suggest riding back to your kingdom and hiding under your bed." At that, several of Alvarr's followers chuckled loudly.
Arthur finally looked around at his men. Merlin was the first to speak. He looked terrified, as Arthur had guessed he would.
"Arthur, you can't trust him," he said, quietly, but earnestly. "He'll kill you."
"Then surely he would have done so already," Arthur pointed out. Seeing Merlin's worried expression deepen, he turned his horse so that his back was to the sorcerer, and urged it forward so that he was closer to his friend. "Merlin, finding out about Morgana is worth the risk," he stated. "I appreciate why you're worried, but there's nothing I can do about that. This is a man with information, nothing more."
"No Arthur, this is a powerful sorcerer who has proved time after time that he is an enemy of Camelot," Merlin said it quickly and with passion.
"Arthur, Merlin is right," Leon said at his elbow. "Alvarr can not be trusted. You are too important to the kingdom to risk on this errand."
Arthur felt a stab of anger. "I'll decide what is to be risked," he growled. "And I have decided."
He turned his horse back to face his enemy. "Where do we meet?" he demanded.
Alvarr smiled and raised an arm, pointing. "There is a stream along that track," he said. "I will meet you there, shortly."
Arthur turned back to his knights one last time, already feeling slightly guilty about snapping at Leon. He glanced round at them, fixing each with a look. "If I do not return," he said, turning to Leon last of all. "You will lead the men back to Camelot as fast as you are able, and prepare for war with Morgana."
"My lord," Leon said, with a slight break in his voice, bowing his head.
Merlin looked like he wanted to say something else, but wisely kept his mouth shut, as Arthur urged his horse forward and away from them down the track.
When Arthur reached the stream, Alvarr was already waiting for him.
He jumped from his horse, and keeping his eyes on his enemy, wrapped the reins around a nearby branch before patting his horse lightly, and stepping away from it.
"So," he said. "What is this message of Morgana's that you wish to give me?"
Alvarr looked at him, and Arthur had the feeling suddenly of being a mouse about to get jumped on by a cat. Then Alvarr smiled, and the feeling faded.
"You're a brave man Arthur," he said. "I'll give you that." He laughed. "You must hate magic, and everything to do with it."
"I'm probably not its biggest fan," Arthur said dispassionately.
"And yet you're here, talking to a sorcerer."
"Believe me, if I could figure out a way to get you into my dungeon right now, we'd be having this conversation elsewhere. Now can we just get to the point? Tell me about Morgana."
"Morgana," Alvarr said, taking a step forward. "The Lady Morgana, wishes to destroy Camelot."
Arthur snorted. "Tell me something I don't know," he said.
Alvarr smiled again, and then took his invitation. "Morgause is dead."
Arthur raised his eyebrows at that. "Really? I thought they had both escaped when the army of the dead was destroyed."
"Morgause died soon afterwards. And her death has devastated your sister, hardened her heart against Camelot, and against you, forever."
"Hey, don't look at me," Arthur said. "I've no idea who caused Morgause's death. I had a platoon of immortal soldiers attacking me at the time."
Alvarr looked at him curiously, and seemed about to say something, but then changed his mind. He went on instead: "She has hatched a plan," he said. "To bring about the downfall of your kingdom through magic. Dark magic. The darkest of the dark, and raised from the earth so that it carries the power of the ancients and none may stop it."
That had Arthur's attention.
"Morgana is growing in her magic," Alvarr went on. "She grows more powerful every day, and it is a wonderful thing to see: wonderful and terrible." He paused for a few seconds, and a look of what Arthur might has described as fear passed over his face. But then he hurried on. "Whatever her power, she is not yet strong enough to perform this magic on her own. But that will not stop her. She is recruiting magic users to her cause, like me. And she has recruited one who has great power, a boy, a druid lad in his early teens. But he as well is still weak, still learning to control his magic. The two of them together would fail to bring about Camelot's downfall. It will be my magic that binds theirs together, that makes it strong, and will raise the greatest evil the world has known and allow it to pour the full force of its fury onto your petty kingdom."
Arthur seemed nonplussed by Alvarr's elaborate speech. "Tell me her message," he insisted.
Alvarr just looked at him and gave a slight movement of his head. "Morgana has no idea I'm here talking to you," he admitted. "I lied about the message, because I had other information to give you, and did not think you would come with me to hear it otherwise."
Arthur's face hardened, but he said evenly: "I'm slightly curious as to why you're standing here betraying the ruler you claim to serve. Don't get me wrong, your story is a touching one, but I'm starting to question your motivations."
Alvarr matched him with an evil grin. "I tell you all this," he said. "Because I want you to know how important I am in Morgana's plans."
"And I'm sure your mother is very proud," Arthur cut in.
At that there was a flash of genuine anger. "My mother is dead!" Alvarr exclaimed. "Dead at your father's hands."
Arthur's hand strayed in the direction of his sword, but he didn't draw it. Alvarr turned away from him swiftly and seemed to recover himself, swallowing his emotions
"Forgive me," he said. "You re-open old wounds."
Arhtur said nothing, no apologies, no words of pity. If his parents had been practicing magic when his father's men caught them, then they had deserved to die. It was simply the law.
"I tell you also," Alvarr went on, trying to ignore his own outburst. "So that you know I have something genuine to offer when I say that I am prepared to bargain with you, Arthur Pendragon. To remove my services from your sister and leave her unable to bring about this magic which would seal your doom."
Arhtur looked up, curious. "And why on earth would you do that?" he wondered.
"Because you have something that I would want in return."
His eyes narrowed. "What?"
Alvarr opened his arms. "Merlin," he said, and smiled.
TBC