Alright so here's the next chapter, enjoy!
Chapter Two: Learning
Lancelot rushed forwards and dropped to his knees, gently pulling her upper body against his and wrapping his arms around her to apply pressure on the wound with his hands. 'Come on Merlin, wake up!' He thought desperately. The stranger was shaking in his arms and he felt one of her hands clench his tunic where it curled on his left thigh while her other hand applied additional pressure on her abdomen. Her breathing was shaking and he could see a layer of sweat on her brow while blood stained both their hands and the floor.
"What happened?" Arthur groaned while staggering to his feet.
"Wake Merlin," Lancelot growled and when the prince hesitated he barked out a command, "Now!" The prince immediately went to wake his unconscious manservant while Lancelot focussed on the woman in his arms. Gwaine was also coming around but the knight just kept applying pressure. He didn't know anything about this young woman except her love and loyalty to Merlin and that was all he needed to know, though he would have liked to know her name.
"Come on you idiot wake up!" He could hear Arthur yell and after a moment Merlin sat up slowly while rubbing his head.
"What happened?" Lancelot would have laughed at the two asking the same question the moment they woke if the woman in his arms hadn't coughed slightly and gasped softly.
"Merlin, over here! Quickly," Lancelot's call had the younger man skittering across the uneven floor to fall to his knees. One look into those aqua eyes had those deep cerulean eyes widening and filling with tears.
"Sabirah," The warlock breathed and immediately went to work pulling off her armour and then gently moving her shirt to get a closer look at the wound. "What happened?" Merlin snarled and all three knights froze for a moment at his tone. They had never heard their friend speak like that before, never heard him so angry and scared. Lancelot recovered first, understanding that she must be important to him.
"I'm not completely sure," he frowned because he wasn't really entirely sure. "She talked with the Cailleach, something about her not supposed to be taking sides and how helping Morgana was a violation of that. She said that the Triple Goddess had sent a message through a seer for her and that as a repercussion for choosing a side a blood sacrifice was still needed but not a life. No one had to die," Lancelot explained while Merlin worked, both ignoring Arthur's tension at the mention of not only his sister but the Triple Goddess. Merlin nodded for the knight to continue. "She decided to be the sacrifice," Lancelot winced at Merlin's glare but continued, "something about me not meeting the requirements?" Merlin considered for a moment and then nodded in understanding of what Lancelot had not said out loud. "The Cailleach stabbed her and then closed the veil." Merlin hissed softly but the fury in the sound was enough to surprise most everyone, including the three knights who had just run into the room.
"You don't seem surprised she's here Lancelot," Merlin said softly but the question was implied.
"She was there at the stream," he explained just as quietly. Arthur and Gwaine had moved to greet the other three and bring them over. "I assumed that since she vanished before you woke and didn't make her presence known she didn't want anyone to know she was here." The conversation dropped while the others approached.
"I see," Merlin nodded sadly, "She's always preferred staying in the shadows." Lancelot remembered the Cailleach calling her a child of shadows and wondered if there wasn't something more to it than that. "Bring me the medicine bag, quickly!" Merlin yelled and Leon raced out to grab it from the horse's saddlebags while the others came closer. "Not too close," Merlin warned calmly and Arthur frowned.
"Why not Merlin? This stranger saved our lives and Camelot so I think she deserves our thanks," but Merlin just sighed while Leon rushed back in and over to give the warlock the bag.
"Because you prat," Merlin's lips twitched slightly, "if she wakes suddenly and sees all these giant knights hovering over her you'll scare her the rest of the way to death." The joke fell flat but they understood right away and backed off to give Lancelot and Merlin some space.
"I was worried if she had any bleeding inside she might drown," the knight explained when Merlin asked why he was holding the young woman the way he was.
"Good thinking," Merlin nodded. "I don't think there's any real damage," he sighed, "But without magic I can't tell." The last bit was whispered but Lancelot understood and nodded, knowing it was too risky to use it here in front of the others.
"None," came the soft whisper and to both men's surprise those aqua eyes opened. "Just missed everything vital," she said calmly and Merlin grinned. The warlock lifted their hands and checked to see if any yarrow was needed but the wound had already stopped bleeding. He quickly used water to clean the area and stitched the wound closed before replacing her shirt and armour. Slowly Lancelot helped her to sit up and Merlin held her eyes, thankfully the others hadn't noticed just yet that she was awake so they had been able to work in peace and quiet.
"Sabirah you are insane," he grinned and gently hugged her. The other knights finally noticed and stood to come over from where they had been sitting waiting to see what happened.
"Not the first time I've been stabbed," she winced as the knight and manservant helped her to her feet, "Won't be the last I'm sure." Merlin just shook his head but he was smiling all the same, the relief on his face was obvious.
"You ready for this?" He whispered as the knights approached and she stiffened as they stopped only a few steps away. He felt her tension and so apparently did Lancelot since he exchanged a worried glance with Merlin before the manservant stepped slightly forward, placing himself ahead of Sabirah in case anything happened. Lancelot kept a hand under her arm remembering what the Cailleach had said about her being weakened.
"I would like to thank you," Arthur stepped forward, back straight and looking like the prince he was, "For your sacrifice for Camelot."
"Didn't do it for Camelot," was the answer he received. Her voice was calm but they all looked surprised at her answer. "While I don't have anything against Camelot neither do I have any real affinity for it. Saving Camelot was a," she considered before finishing her sentence slowly, "Pleasant consequence of my choice. I did what I did to save a friend," she shrugged and Merlin sighed while Arthur frowned.
"What do you mean to save a friend? I don't know you," he looked confused and Sabirah sighed.
"Did you honestly believe Merlin would let you sacrifice yourself? Not only are you the only prince of Camelot but you are his friend and he cares about what happens to you. Naturally Merlin would give anything to save someone he cares about," the inflection told Arthur everything he needed to know and the prince turned to Merlin.
"You were going to take my place?" The knights all looked shocked when Merlin rolled his eyes but didn't deny it.
"So basically you don't really care about Camelot you only did it to protect Merlin?" Leon interrupted what they all knew would have been a futile shouting match.
"Not necessarily," she answered softly while looking into his narrowed eyes. "I may not have the same love for Camelot as you knights do but that doesn't mean I want the innocent to suffer. I might not be a knight but that doesn't mean I don't have my own code of honour you know," she said gently and Merlin frowned slightly.
"Sabirah," he said slowly while facing her fully. "On that note. Why exactly are you here?"
"Would you believe me if I said I missed you?" She asked deadpanned but Merlin just raised an eyebrow in a manner very reminiscent of Gaius. "Didn't think so," she sighed, "I have my reasons." She spoke quietly. "We received word of a credible threat to certain individuals including Prince Arthur Pendragon and," she blinked slowly, "Emrys. It was decided by the council that anyone not already involved couldn't get involved now. It would mean choosing a side and they didn't want to risk tearing the clan apart."
"In other words everyone was forbidden from helping," Merlin frowned in concern. "I can understand. Many would want to side with Morgana given that she seems to want to free magic." The knights froze in shock but Sabirah's soft voice cut them off.
"Perhaps but she is going about it the wrong way. She has no legitimate claim to the throne nor will she ever. Not to mention killing innocents is hardly the way to endear yourself to anyone," the knights were having a hard time figuring out if she was making jokes considering her words should be amusing but her tone was generally deadpanned. Also they couldn't see her face which made it even harder to figure out. "Naturally the differing opinions would cause a rift and we cannot allow that to happen amongst the clan. The risk would be far too great and the number of lives lost," she shook her head and Merlin nodded but then frowned.
"So then why are you here if everyone is forbidden?" He questioned.
"I said anyone not already involved was forbidden," she answered calmly. "While I'm the only one of the clan involved it means that I have prior claim and as such have a right to intercede."
"Okay I don't know about the rest of you but I'm lost," Gwaine laughed and that broke the tension. Most of the others were chuckling as well and amusement seemed to flicker through those strange aqua eyes at the comment.
"Why don't we go out and set up camp? Sabirah can explain a bit while I double check her wounds in the light and tend to any that you have," Merlin said and Arthur nodded in agreement. Lancelot stayed close to the stranger, helping her with an arm around her waist and her right arm around his shoulders while the others hurried out of the creepy building. Merlin set up a fire while Lancelot helped the young woman get settled against a log. To everyone's surprise a gorgeous black stallion stood near their own horses. "Hello Kaitas," Merlin smiled when the horse snuffled his palms, "Sorry bud, I don't have any apples right now." They assumed the horse belonged to Sabirah and left it be when it snorted and danced aside or snapped at any of the knights who got close.
"Kai doesn't like strangers," Sabirah called calmly and they backed off to leave the horse to graze in peace. "You have questions?" She asked and waited while Merlin dealt with the cut on Percival's arm from the wyvern attack.
"Who are you, where are you from, what is this clan?" Arthur asked calmly and signalled his knights to wait and let her answer.
"I am Sabirah," she answered with equal calm. "I was born in Uerturio. The clan is a bit more complicated to explain," she considered. "Understand I cannot tell you everything as there are some secrets that I am not allowed to speak or that are not mine to tell." Arthur nodded in understanding but waited for her to continue. "Have you ever heard of Shadow-walkers?" She asked softly and while Arthur and Leon looked confused Elyan, Percival and Gwaine both froze and watched her more carefully. The king and his first knight saw them stiffen and watched her cautiously. "If I wanted to hurt you I would have done it already," she said calmly, flicking them an almost annoyed glance.
"What are these Shadow-walkers?" Arthur asked slowly.
"Assassins sire," Elyan answered but before anyone could speak Sabirah interrupted.
"Common misconception. We are not assassins. Though we have been known to fill that role from time to time it is not our purpose. We are keepers of the balance," she said calmly. "Sometimes the balance needs a certain individual to die to restore the balance, other times it is not so clear."
"I don't understand," Arthur frowned but leaned forward in interest. Percival and Gwaine also seemed to be listening attentively but both Leon and Elyan were watching her far more carefully than she would have liked. While the other three were cautious she could tell that they weren't overly concerned at the moment.
"The world is all about balance," she said gently. "Light for shadow, good for evil, life for death. Without one the other cannot exist but if there is too much of one it throws the world out of balance and that balance must be restored. Little imbalances are one thing," she said calmly. "Someone being too angry or sad and not having enough joy is not something the clan gets involved in. Usually that imbalance can sort itself out," she leaned back. Exhaustion weighed on her mind but she knew she had to keep talking because those who knew of her people knew that they possessed certain gifts. "Shadow-walkers maintain the balance as best we can and we are given certain gifts and talents to help us do so. Most do not realise that there are very few who attain the rank of Shadow-walker. There are four ranks within the clan. Initiate is when you show talent and promise. You are examined and tested. If you pass you move on to the next stage. Fail and the clan finds a suitable place where your talents may still be of use and where you can become a productive member of society." The knights were listening now, enthralled in the knowledge that she was giving them that very few knew. "The next rank is acolyte. You are given no missions but instead spend most of your time doing training and chores as these things teach discipline and help to hone your skills. One in ten make it to acolyte," she looked calmly at those around her. "One in fifty make it past that stage. Many choose to stay as an acolyte, some even choose to become teachers themselves or historians. They do not rank higher than acolyte and as such cannot take on missions but they still have a place among us and are treated with respect due their station. The next rank is Shadow-walker," she explained softly. "You are allowed to go on missions but always in a team of no less than three and no more than five. For your first three years as a Shadow-walker you are not permitted on missions but instead train with your team. Each team has a specific skill set and will be sent on specific missions. You learn to communicate with your team without words, to work together perfectly, to anticipate each other's movements and needs. After that you begin taking missions. The first year of missions you are observed by those of the highest rank, prove yourselves competent and worthy and you are then allowed to proceed on missions without supervision."
"The highest rank?" Arthur asked calmly.
"Those of the highest rank are called Wraiths. They are those who have proven to be of the utmost skill, power and wisdom. They are the ones who go on solo missions and are not given orders. The oldest of the Wraiths form the council since very few survive to reach that age. If one in fifty acolytes reaches Shadow-walker rank only one in one hundred Shadow-walkers reaches Wraith rank. At this point in time our clan has only twelve Wraiths not including the council," the knights considering quietly what she had said.
"You are a Wraith aren't you?" Gwaine asked slowly while eyeing her.
"Of course she is Gwaine," Merlin scoffed calmly. "Only a Wraith can go on a solo mission." Merlin walked over and removed her armour before checking the stitches.
"How do you become a Wraith?" Arthur frowned. "How do you prove yourself worthy? Is there some kind of test?"
Sabirah winced, "Not exactly. The only way to become a Wraith is to survive," she sighed sadly. "All Wraiths were once Shadow-walkers. Members of teams remember? A Wraith moves alone always because we are the only ones left from our teams. If you allow your team to be destroyed you are destroyed in turn however if your team is destroyed and you survive the pain, guilt and utter aloneness then and only then have you earned the rank of Wraith. Some Shadow-walkers never recover from losing their team. They kill themselves or sink so deeply into their own minds that eventually they die of starvation, thirst or just that lack of will to survive."
"Your team," Arthur frowned.
"They were lost," she answered softly, her voice holding a hint of sorrow. "We were a triad, a group of three. Jaythan and Raizen were both lost on the same mission. I myself barely survived both the mission and losing them," she gave Merlin a knowing look. "Thankfully I wasn't truly alone," she leaned back and closed her eyes for a moment.
"I found her about three years before I came to Camelot. She was in the forest and in really bad shape. Mom and I took care of her for the summer and when autumn came she helped with the harvest to thank us and left. Every now and then she would come back to the village for a few days. She would help out and keep us company before going on her way. I knew what she was, she explained it while she stayed with us, wanting us to know who and what we had under our roof. I knew that when she was with us she was on her way to or from a mission in the area and needed that contact so we gave it whenever she needed it. Sabirah is family," Merlin shrugged.
"You didn't care about the magic?" Elyan asked calmly, knowing that it might set off an explosion. All the knights froze and glanced at both Leon and Arthur, neither of which had moved but Merlin simply kept his focus on the wound in front of him.
"No, I didn't," Merlin answered calmly. "I've always known magic isn't evil, it's the way it is used that makes it so. Sabirah was nothing but kind and honest with us so we never cared. Besides," he glanced at Gwen's brother, "magic wasn't illegal in Cenred's kingdom."
"You have magic?" Arthur choked out.
"All clan members do to some degree. Some are more powerful than others. Some can only use healing magic," she shrugged calmly.
"What is your talent?" Leon frowned, his hand on his sword.
Sabirah sighed, "Shadow magic is my specialty. Not dark magic," she explained calmly, "which is actually considered more evil than neutral but rather shadow magic."
"What is shadow magic?" Lancelot asked both because he was curious and because he knew no one else would ask.
"I will explain later," her eyes crinkled as if she was smiling but her eyes were sad, "For now I need to rest."