Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter five: Questions, questions, questions.
That night, after they had left the destroyed village and found a place to camp, Merlin still lay awake. His eyes were shut and his breathing shallow ants even. Around him the night was silent, the only sound was the fire crackling close by. Beside him, Arthur, unknown to Merlin, is still awake and also faking sleep. Around them the other knights were all asleep.
Opening his eyes, Merlin glanced round, before sitting up and getting to his feet. Leaving the camp, Merlin walked a fair distance from the camp. He didn't want anyone over hearing what he and Kilgharrah were going to talk about. But unknown to Merlin, Arthur is watching him leave with a frown. Since he had left Lochru and since he had seen the vision, something had been troubling him.
The mark on Lochru's wrist... the yellow coil was Lochru's symbol, but the spiral of a druid seer was black not dark blue. And then there was the fact Mordred the dark was the one fighting Arthur. Mordred was destroyed... Merlin had destroyed him.
"O drakon, e male so ftengometta tesd'hup'anankes!" Merlin yells into the sky, as he walks up a ridge.
When Merlin arrives at the small ledge over looking a clearing, Kilgharrah is already there and waiting for him.
"I need to know about a druid symbol," Merlin explains as he approaches Kilgharrah. "A dark blue spiral within a thin, yellow coil... I believed it to be the druid seer, Lochru."
"It is the mark of a Vates. Druid seers often become Vates, for the Vates dedicate their lives to foresight... Like Taliesin, there powers are great." Kilgharrah nodes. "Where did you encounter him?"
"On my journey here." Merlin answers, shifting slightly under the intensity of Kilgharrah's gaze. "He warned me of Arthur's bane?"
Kilgharrah looked surprised and a little confused. "His Bane?"
"And then he showed me a battle." Merlin shivers slightly, he had seen many horrors in the battle against Mordred the dark... But he would never get used to seeing it. "A terrible battle... Arthur was fighting for his life. He was wounded. I saw him fall."
"The Vates' power of prophecy is unrivalled, even by a high priestess." Kilgharrah replies, unsure of how to answer, so only saying what he knows.
"So this battle will come to pass?" Merlin demands.
Kilgharrah shakes his head slightly. "I do not know, young warlock, but one thing is certain... This was no chance meeting."
"You think I should heed his warning?" Merlin asks.
"There was a time when the words of the Vates' were considered a gift." Kilgharrah answers indirectly.
Merlin shakes his head, feeling slightly helpless. "Then why does it feel like a burden?"
"A wise man is not cowed by knowledge, Merlin." Kilgharrah answers. "Instead, he uses it to guide him."
"How?" Merlin exclaimed, still trying to work out how this knowledge could possibly guide him.
"That is something only you can decide." Kilgharrah replies. "But remember, the Vates singled you out for a reason. Now, more than ever, it is you and you alone who can keep Arthur safe."
With that Kilgharrah turns to leave.
"Wait!" Merlin yells.
Kilgharrah turned back to face Merlin. "Young warlock?"
"There's something else I need to ask you," Merlin speaks. "It's about Mordred the dark..."
"Mordred?" Kilgharrah asks, his full attention now on Merlin once more.
"Yeah," Merlin answers. "In the vision Lochru showed me... It was Mordred the dark who wounded Arthur. But I destroyed Mordred! How could it have been him I saw?"
"Mordred, much like Sigan, can not be destroyed or killed, young warlock. Mordred is more than capable of rising again."
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The following morning, Arthur, Merlin and Arthur's men, packed up camp and continued on their way. They ride through a the forest they camped next to and for the whole journey, Merlin doesn't mutter a word, much to the worry of Arthur. Arthur knew for sure now, something serious was bothering Merlin.
After almost a full days riding Arthur, Merlin and Arthur's men ride into Queen Annis' courtyard and quickly dismount. The stable worker quickly take there houses and a guard leads the way, to where Queen Annis is waiting for them. As Arthur and his men follow the guard, Merlin slips away and follows the stable workers.
Queen Annis looks up from where she sat on her throne, two guards stand either side of her, spears and shields in hand and swords on their belts. She gets to her feet and steps down from the throne, as Arthur approaches.
"Queen Annis." Arthur greets, with a slight bow of his head.
"Arthur Pendragon." Annis answers, with a slight bow of her head.
"I am most grateful," Arthur speaks. "You have let us have passage through your kingdom at such short notice."
Queen Annis glances at Arthur's men, before looking back at Arthur. "We are united, Arthur, and these are troubled times."
Queen Annis holds out her arm, showing them the way she wished them to go. As she started leasing the way, Arthur fell into step beside her, frowning as he notices Merlin's disappearance.
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Back in Camelot, Gwen is hardly paying attention as her maidservant serves her food. The table is lit by two candles and a pitcher of water stands along side a single goblet.
"I'm sorry, I can't eat this." Gwen final speaks as her maidservant stands back from the table.
"I'll get you something else, my lady." Gwen's maidservant answers, moving forward and picking up the plate.
At that moment the door to the chamber opened and Freya entered, not far behind her was Sibella, Hunith and Balinor.
Freya smiled at the maidservant as she hurried past. "Do you mind if I take this?"
The maidservant bows her head and lets Freya take the plate she was carrying.
"Freya." Gwen smiles, as Freya takes a seat at the table and places Gwen's dinner back before her.
"Gwen," Freya answers. "I just though I'd see how you were... You don't mind do you?"
"No," Gwen answers, as Freya and Merlin's children run around the room. "If you could just sit with me..."
"Are you not hungry?" Freya asks, having seen all the food Gwen had failed to eat.
Gwen shakes her head slightly looking down at her food. After a moments silence she speaks.
"You'd think I'd be used to it by now... Not knowing if he'll return."
"You love him," Freya smiles, thinking about Merlin and knowing what Gwen must be going through thinking about Arthur. "I understand."
"Merlin?" Gwen asks, knowing Freya was often nervous when Merlin went on patrol... He could be gone up to a month at a time.
"Yes... But I know in my heart Merlin will always return to me." Freya answers. "I just sometimes wonder in what state."
Being married to someone who's immortal is sometimes a curse as much as a gift... Least Freya and the children shared that gift/curse.
Gwen nodes. "I hope he's okay... I don't know what I'd do without him."
"There is not greater warrior than Arthur, he will return... Plus Merlin is with him, you know Merlin will do whatever if takes to keep him safe... To keep us all safe."
"I know." Gwen smiles. "You're right. Thank you."
Freya smiles as she watched Gwen begin to eat her meal.
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Hey hope you liked that chapter, next should be up soon. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.