********IMPORTANT******* For the sake of writing, I am jumping ahead a couple of days. The summary of these days- Kathrine is still being tortured by Morgana. The knights, Arthur, and Merlin ride to Morgana's hide out.
And with the lessons in the other world, she has grown stronger and can use this magic in Camelot.
The day started out as any other. The sun rises to meet the floor of the damp cell. The smell of the sulfur and dampness are suffocating. The cold walls offer no comfort for they all bring pain to touch. Hours pass with the stench and stiffness of the cell. Around evening, Morgana walks into the cell through the thick wooden door.
"Are you going to talk now?"
"And why would I do that?" she says sarcastically.
Morgana smirks.
"Fine. We can visit the fire again."
She grabs a poker and says a spell. The metal lights up to an angry red. She smiles evilly and moves towards her. Then, bells start ringing. Morgana turns from her and smiles. She says a spell and the poker hovers in midair. She strolls out of the room and the poker comes at her.
"Steppan."
It stops in midair.
"Eftforgiefnes"
The poker drops red to the ground. Now it hits. Nausea and pain sear through her blood stream. It continues to cycle until there is a knock on the door. She moves her head up slightly and sees the goofy grin of Merlin through the bars of the door. His goofy self holds up the iron keys. He inserts one of the keys into the lock. She can hear the jangling of the key in the lock. He pulls the key out and tries another. That one doesn't work either. He then tries the third one. The lock accepts it and the door opens. The lanky manservant half walks half runs to her.
"Who did this?"
"Who do you think?" she says weakly.
His eyes harden. His hands move to the manacles holding her to the ceiling. He brings the sword up to the chains and slices through. Gravity did not like her. She crashes down to the ground, almost hitting her head. Merlin saves her head and gently lays her down. Arthur rushes in.
"What in God's name are you doing?" he asks.
"Well she was imprisoned with manacles hanging from the ceiling. I cut them so she fell. I saved her head from hitting the ground and an injury to the head."
"Well good." Arthur moves into the room and drapes her over his shoulder. "We don't have time! Let's go!"
Arthur takes off running. A face full of chainmail and sweat is not the ideal place. She wills her body to start healing to be able to help in some way. The corridors were made of pale stones neatly placed next to each other. The amount of light increases with every step Arthur takes. But with that, is the gut-wrenching smell of metallic blood. Then when they reach the courtyard, bodies are littered everywhere. But as far as she could see, none of the bodies are adorned with the famous red cloaks of the knights. Arthur then speeds up. She lifts her head only slightly. She sees that Merlin is right on Arthur's tail and the other knights are coming from different directions in the courtyard. She lets her head drop back the smelly chainmail. They make it through the gates and continue running. Then, the sounds of more feet echo behind them. Great! More soldiers! Arthur moves his hand up and some knights go in another direction. Arthur soon stops at a clearing with a river cutting through the side. He sets her down against a moss covered log. Merlin and Elyan are the last part of their group. Gwaine, Leon, and Percival seems to be the other group to split the soldiers chasing us in half. They waited for mere moments, then men came upon them. Arthur and Elyan were doing most of the work. Merlin was supporting himself with his sword but there was use of magic every so often. Actually, he was frequently burning the handles of the enemy's swords. To make herself useful, she used magic like the other Merlin taught her.
"Tóscænan."
A branch fell on an unsuspecting foe on Arthur's flank. She continues to brake more branches when there was a mercenary on someone's vulnerable side. And in the matter of minutes, each mercenary was unconscious, severely injured, or dead.
Arthur sticks his blade into the ground and washes his hands in the river.
"We wait then find real shelter." The King says.
Merlin walks over to Arthur and murmurs something in his ear. The King nods and motions with his head 'go.' Merlin starts to walk away from the clearing.
"Merlin wait! I want to come with you!" She calls.
Arthur forcefully says, "No."
Merlin looks at her. He hopefully sees that she wants to talk to him, privately.
"If your body can take it, sure."
She smiles brightly. With a help of a sword, she rises from the ground. Now she is glad that she started the healing process earlier. Merlin helps her up the little hill and supports her for a while. The walk for a few minutes in silence. He stops in the middle of a collection of trees. She grabs the sturdiest one and leans on it.
"What do you wish to speak to me about?"
"I wanted to tell you that I know Merlin."
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Of course you do. I can prove it."
"What are you trying to prove?"
"I know that you keep a spell book in a secret door under your bed. I know that you have saved Camelot on many occasions. I know that your father was Balinor and you are the last dragonlord. I know that you are called Emrys by the druids and that you have to help Arthur, who is the Once and Future King, unite the land of Albion and restore magic back to the land."
Merlin steps back in shock.
"How do you know all this?"
"It's a long story."
"Well, since you know everything about me, I will let you come with me."
"Where?"
"To a druid camp. So we have plenty of time to talk."
And so, she tells him of her two times and how she knows everything about him.
"So let me get this straight, you live in a place called America."
"Check."
"You know what's going to happen next."
"No, not really."
"I told you all about myself."
"Yes. Well, except for this druid girl. You still haven't given me her name because future you believes that if I know, and if Gwaine ever gets me drunk, I could tell him."
"Tell future me thank you. And I am teaching you magic?"
"Yes and you are so clever that over the years you have created new spells."
"How old am I on the other side?"
She closes her mouth and looks at the ground.
"How long?"
"You told me you were 1,413 years old. And that includes how old you are now."
He looks away with hurt in his eyes.
"Yeah we don't say his name. His code word is Max. But, you love the history you lived or will live."
They continue on for a while longer but with silence. Then, smoke appears yards away. A young boy of about eight summers appears from behind a tree.
"Who are you?" the high-pitched voice asks.
"This is the Lady Katherine. My name is Mer-..."
"Emrys. His name is Emrys."
The boy looks at Merlin with awe. Merlin looks at her with calm rage. She smirks and tries to get to the boy's level.
"Can you do me a favor?"
The boy nods feverishly.
"Can you bring the elder to us?"
He immediately runs towards the encampment. Merlin helps her up from her knees. He turns her to face him.
"Why did you do that?"
"Well, the druids are going to know anyways. And, did you see how his face lit up? You can't deny that he was excited. He probably looks up to Emrys like a hero. You cannot deny a child happiness."
"Yes but I would've liked to avoid the stares. They treat me as if I am royalty. I want to be just Merlin."
She gives him an exasperated look.
"When have you ever been 'just Merlin'?"
"Camelot. I wasn't known for magic by anybody. Well, Gaius and Lancelot, but they are exceptions."
"Uh huh. Okay 'just Merlin'."
"Emrys." They turn to the new speaker. He was cloaked in dark green and holding a staff in his left hand. He had clear blue eyes and grey hair with hints of white. The staff is made of a darker wood so it would stand out. A blue crystal sits at the top. It seems to reflect the dying embers of the sun.
Merlin straightens.
"Yes?"
"Come. We have much to discuss."
"Yes. But may I ask something?"
"Anything."
"May we, the king, the knights, and myself, have shelter in your camp?"
"Anything you wish, we will provide."
"Yes. Now, will someone take the lady to the healer? She needs attention. I will grab the King."
The elder bowed and a man came from behind him. He took her weight and half carried her to the tents. She turns back but Merlin is already gone. She faces forward and continues to the camp.
The camp is pretty quaint, but cozy at the same time. The tents are skewed across the clearing.
"Excuse me sir but, where is the healer's tent?"
"Right this way my lady."
"Just call me Kathrine."
The elder smiles. He opens a fern green tent. This one seems to be the largest or second to largest in the camp. A woman who seems to be in her thirties is attending the few patients. There is a teen who seems to be throwing up, a young girl with a cut on her knee, and an older woman who is breathing shallowly in a cot. She sits on a bed and waits for the physician. The girl's cut was healed in no time and the teen has more color than when she arrived. The woman has hair of cool tea and grey eyes. She smiles warmly when she reaches her.
"So, my dear, what do we have here?"
She lifts up her shirt and angry cuts, bruises and burns adorn her abdomen. The woman moves around her body to inspect the damage.
"Can you lay down for me?"
Kathrine is defiantly ready for a nap. She slips into unconsciousness without the physician's permission.
Spells in order:
Stop – Down – Break
**Countries: Ireland with the Druids**
