Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter six: A feast in Caerleon.
In Caerleon, Queen Annis is holding a feast in Arthur's honour.
"What you saw at Asgorath is no surprise," Queen Annis informs Arthur, after he asked about the village they had passed through the day before. "Some month ago, Saxons began raiding our outlying villages. They're rounding up all the men they can find and taking them to Ismere."
"To raise an army?"
"People say Morgana is tearing the fortress apart."
"Why?"
"She must be looking for something." Queen Annis answers. "I dare not think what."
"Then my men may still be alive."
"Yes." Queen Annis answers. "There is every chance."
Arthur nodes and goes to answers but is cut off as Queen Annis speaks again.
"I think its time for some entertainment." Queen Annis smiles, slightly, upon seeing Merlin enter the hall and make his way towards them.
As Merlin goes to take a seat beside Arthur, he catches the queens eye.
"I would love to see the fool preform," Queen Annis speaks, referring to the talk she and Merlin had, when they signed a peace treaty years ago. "Given all your failing you must have some skills."
Arthur looked shocked, Leon who was sitting next to where Merlin had been about to sit down choked on his drink and Merlin just laughed.
"Who am I to refuse the request of a Queen," Merlin answers, with a mocking bow. "But sadly, I have no skills."
Merlin turned and walked back towards the main door, standing at the entrance to hall. The hall was silent in a matter in seconds and Merlin bowed his head to his audience. Taking a deep breath, Merlin let his magic run freely. He created animals out of candle flames and made the wine in jugs and cups, come to life and spiral through the air, creating shapes and patterns. He made the air move and swirl and made the plants decorations on tables grow and become more colourful.
Then he began forming the element, he now controlled, into images and they began to tell a story. A story of magic and metal. A story of hope and fear. A story of life and death. As the images began to move faster, Merlin controlled the light and darkness of room, adding more to the story. And finally as the story came to a finish, Merlin clapped his hands and the images exploded into a shower of sparks.
As everything returned to normal, Merlin bowed and grinned at Queen Annis. Who was clapping along side everyone else. Arthur and his men, allow clapping, were slightly amazed. In Camelot, Merlin only ever used his magic, in court, when it was needed. He would do tricks for the children in the lower town, but he would never preform in court, for entertainment.
"It has been too long since you last set foot in these halls, Merlin Emrys." Queen Annis speaks as Merlin takes his seat between Arthur and Leon.
Merlin often stopped at the castle on patrol, if he was passing the areas. He and Queen Annis may have signed a peace treaty five years ago, but Merlin liked to keep relations between the kingdoms fresh, so visiting kingdoms he had alliances with was he best way. When ever he visited he preformed as he just did, those from Caerleon loved stories.
Merlin smiled. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Annis Caerleon."
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After talking to Queen Annis, Merlin makes his way back to his chamber for the night, glad he'll finally have some peace an quite. Reaching the door to his room for the night, Merlin sighed, before pushing the door open and entering the room. He jumped slightly upon seeing Arthur sitting in the chair by the fireplace, watching as the fire danced over the wood
"When did you learn to preform magic like that?" Arthur asked, without turning to face Merlin. "All I ever seen you do is create a horse out of smoke and a dragon out of burning ash... I didn't even see that first hand."
"Yeah, well, I have many talents." Merlin answers, somewhat bitterly, he wasn't in the mood for this. "You're just failed to notice, that's all."
Arthur stays silent for a moment, simply staring at Merlin.
"Come on, out with it." Arthur finally asks. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Merlin answers quickly.
"There's something bothering you," Arthur sighs. "Don't lie to me Merlin."
"And how would you know?" Merlin snaps. "How could you possibly know I'm lying!"
"Because I know when your lying, Merlin, I know you too well." Arthur replies. "Plus you never yell or snap like you just have, unless something's bothering you."
"There's nothing bothering me!" Merlin answers.
Arthur shakes his head. "Yes there is, now tell me."
"I'm not sure we should go to Ismere." Merlin answers after a moments thought.
Arthur sighs. "That's not what's bothering you Merlin... Was it about the druid?"
"What?" Merlin asked.
"The druid, Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed. "The one I found you siting next to, yesterday."
"How...?"
"I would have to have been a fool not to notice," Arthur answers. "He had a tattoo on his wrist, he was a druid that much I do know."
"It's nothing." Merlin answers.
"It must be something," Arthur answers. "I saw you last night, Merlin. You left the camp in the dead of night... You went to see Kilgharrah."
Merlin sighs. "Fine I went to see Kilgharrah... Aithusa went missing, he's been missing for a long time now. No ones knows what's happened. I can't summon him, I can't communicate with him... All I know is, he's alive. Kilgharrah and Zafira have been taking it in turns to look for him... That's where Zafira is now, she's looking for him. Kilgharrah was simply informing me, nothing had been found."
"That's not what's bothering you, Merlin." Arthur answers after a moment.
"Could you please just leave me in peace, Arthur," Merlin finally pleads. "A nights peace and quite is all I asks for."
Arthur gets to his feet, shaking his head slightly.
"When are you going to trust me, Merlin?" Arthur asks, before walking out the door.
"There are just something's you are better off not knowing, my friend." Merlin mutters, falling face first onto his bed. "And I trust you with my life."
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The young women who works for Jared, pulled her cloak over her shoulders and the hood low over her face. She quickly left her room in the servant quarters and made her way towards the courtyard. Unknown to her, Freya was following her. Both she and Merlin knew there was a traitor, but finding them was the problem. But finally Freya had found who she believed to be the traitor.
The two of them had help from Gaius and Alice, who checked every member of castle staff, who came to them to be treated, for tattoos related to Mordred the dark. Of course the fact they all had magic made the task a lot easier, but there were hundreds of people who worked in the castle. The young women she was following had every opportunity to spy on council meetings and any other important meetings.
Elsewhere Jared appears at some old ruins in the middle of the woods, he glanced round and knelt before an alter. He bowed his head and began to chant, it was the prey all the brother hood knew and it was one of the many ways they worshiped Mordred the dark. They chant was also used when ever they were about to do a blood magic ritual.
Freya mutters a quick spell and her eye flash a silvery gold colour, as the young women tries to slip past the guards. Instantly all the guards become oblivious to their presence. Freya smiled, as she followed the traitor, as long as she stayed unnoticed she could gather all the evidence she needed to expose her.
Following the young women through the wood, Freya soon found herself following the path towards some old ruins in the heart of the forest. As they drew closer Freya ducked behind one of the ruins' walls and listened as the young women approaches where she was meeting Jared.
"It's me!" The young women exclaimed, as she found a sword blade pressed to her throat. "It's Rachel! I didn't mean to frighten you."
"Fear is in here," Jared taps his forehead, as he removes his sword from her throat. "No one can ever make you feel fear. Do you understand?"
Rachel just nodes, looking slightly fearful.
"You have something to tell me?" Jared questions.
"Yes," Rachel answers. "Arthur had set out for Ismere."
Jared nodes. "As I expected."
"But he is approaching from the west," Rachel quickly adds. "Through Annis' lands."
"You're sure?" Jared asks, looking slightly alarmed.
"Certain." Rachel answers, with a node.
"When did he leave?" Jared demands, worried that in his absence Arthur could have caught Morgana by surprise.
"Yesterday at dawn," Rachel answers. "Shall I come with you?"
Jared thinks for a moment. "Your disappearance would cause suspicion."
"What would you like me to do?" Rachel asks.
"You have served your purpose for now." Jared answers, before turning on the spot and disappearing.
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Hey, hope you enjoyed reading that. Next chapter will be up soon,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.