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The forest was alive with creatures of all sizes, going about their lives, not caring about the political power play happening up at the castle of Camelot. He wished he could join them, but he was at the center of it all. If he left, then everything would fall apart and he wouldn't do that to Arthur or the Druid people.
It was a cloudy day, shadows shifting constantly as clouds scuttled across the expanse of blue that was the sky. It was peaceful here and for a few moments at least, he would enjoy it to its fullest.
He stopped when it went silent. He could feel a tension in the air as the forest life held its breath in anticipation of something…something large. He glanced up as a shadow passed over, but the sun glared in his eyes and all he could make out was a large body of mass coming at him when his world was knocked sideways.
He heard a loud screech and thump as whatever it was landed in the clearing he had been passing through. Whatever it was that had knocked him down rolled them to the side as a razor sharp beak jabbed at the space they had recently occupied.
Looking down, he came face to face with sharp brown eyes in a tanned face, long black hair disheveled from rolling on the ground, leaves sticking out from it. "Lancelot?" He asked, confused as to how this man had appeared.
He didn't answer as he stood to face the creature‒a griffin upon closer look‒ and charged. Merlin reacted on instinct, magic lashing out to pull the man back away from slashing beak and claws. If he landed harder than Merlin intended, he would at least survive. "Don't." He called out.
Standing from the ground he slowly approached the feathered and furred creature. Bright yellow eyes watched him intently, judging when he would be in striking range. Another step and the griffin lashed out with his beak, aiming for Merlin's arm. He stopped it with a glance, eyes still blazing gold from before as his magic jumped readily to his call again.
It screeched in defiance as it remained frozen to the spot. Merlin rested a gentle hand on its outstretched beak. The creature shuddered at the touch, but he ignored it, looking into bright predatory eyes.
"Oh wing friend. Your heart has been grievously twisted by a cruel hand." The griffin screeched again, straining against his magical hold. Before it could break free, he drove his magic through his hand into the griffin, spreading it out through its body.
It gave one high pitched shriek and shuddered and then fell silent. Slowly, he released his hold on it until it stood free of his binding. Yellow eyes studied him curiously, head cocked to the side in contemplation. Finally it took a step forward, bumping its head against his chest in friendship.
Merlin smiled at the gesture. "Go; fly free with a heart unclouded." It pressed forward one more time, sending a mental image of its thanks and backed up. With much wind churning and dust raising, it rose above the trees, headed east back to forests it knew.
"You know, you didn't have to throw me so hard." A stoic voice said behind him. He turned to look at the brunette before him. As tall as he was and well-muscled, he could have passed for any human, if not for the elongated ears hidden by long hair and the hidden dark bronze flecks in his eyes.
"Sorry, I wasn't trying to do that." He grinned sheepishly. The brunette just continued to stare at him. "Why are you here?"
"To do my duty, protecting the High Priestess's family."
"No, your duty as temple guard is to protect the High Priest." He said annoyed.
"I am no longer the Captain of the Guard. I promoted my second-in-command when I heard of what has been happening to you here. I came personally to continue my duty. Though the counsel were hinting at it before I left." He explained to him.
"Well, I don't need a bodyguard."
"You need a bodyguard." Arthur told the Druid at dinner. Lancelot stood at ease as the royal family looked him over. In shining chainmail and light gray tunic with brown breeches, sword belted at his waist, he made an impressive figure.
"But‒"
"No buts. I can't always be there to protect you and he can help with things I can't." Arthur told the pale Druid as he sulked.
"Tell me, are you like Merlin?" Uther asked him. None saw Merlin stiffen in unease as he waited for Lancelot to answer.
"In what ways?" He asked evasively.
"Magic wise." Uther said, not seeming to notice the silent conversation going on between the two Druids as he waited for him to answer.
"Magic, no. my skill lies in my sword. I don't have enough magic to use it anyways." He explained.
Uther mulled this over then nodded. "I agree with Arthur. Another set of eyes will make a great difference in keeping someone from killing you." Merlin still looked rebellious. "Beside, you're not the only one with a bodyguard. We all have one, as a precaution." Morgana, Ygraine and Arthur nodded at his statement.
Merlin sighed. "Fine, if it will make everyone happy, then I see no problem with Lancelot staying." Uther nodded, making the statement final.
Merlin waited until they were enclosed inside his room before turning to his new bodyguard. For a few minutes, the room was silent as they studied the other. Finally he had to asked. "Why didn't you tell them?"
For a few seconds, he was silent as he considered his words. Finally he spoke. "It was not for me to tell." He said simply. Merlin couldn't help but feel grateful for those words. "But…" And he paused for a second. "…eventually, you will have to tell them."
For a second, Merlin remained silent, then he nodded. "I know…it's just, I don't know when I should or how. It's not like this is an everyday thing."
"That maybe, but it will come out eventually, whether you want it or not. And even if I will not say, it needs to be pointed out that there are others who are not so inclined."
"I know, but so far all focus has been on the treaty then on me. For now, I will keep in the background." The bodyguard nodded. He turned for the door, his rooms adjacent to his own on the right. "Oh, and Lancelot?" He turned back to regard the paler Druid. "Thank you."
"There is nothing to be thanked for." He turned once more and left, the door shutting with a quiet thump.
Crystal shattered as she let her temper get the best of her. Taking deep breaths, she cooled down, waving a hand to fix the ruined crystal sphere. She turned back to the stone basin, hand skimming over the water to bring the lost image back.
The griffin flew high above the ground, but flew it did, in the opposite direction she had sent it. She couldn't feel her spell on it anymore which meant only one thing: that that stupid boy had interfered in her plans again.
Frowning slightly, she waved her hand, and the image shifted from blue skies to a crowded market place where a pale young man walked next to a blonde. They were laughing over something, the blonde's arm slung across his shoulders as he steered him through the crowds.
Not only had her plans not worked, but now it appeared he had a new ally. The image zoomed in on the darker male behind them, a dark shadow for one of such importance. She sneered at the thought. Yet for one so low, he had a lot of power.
Her plan had been to kill the prince. A whispered word in a grieving human woman's ear had influenced what was already in the witch's heart and making her act without fear. She had been stopped, the boy's power making itself known as he enforced his power over time.
The next one, someone able to get closer to the prince. A knight of the pathetic human kingdom. An idea planted in his mind about defeating the prince at any cost to remain champion. Foiled again when he sensed the magic layered into the shield.
She decided to go with something even subtler. Instead of going after just the prince, she went after the whole city, using something few knew about. Except, the boy again interfered again, somehow having knowledge that few had.
So she changed her plans, again. Instead of going after the prey, she went after the protector. Even going so far as to go herself to implement the plan, though in a glamor strong enough to fool the stupid boy. And it had worked. He'd gone running off, thinking the danger was to his charges as the trap snapped shut on him instead.
And for a few brief moments, she had savored victory. Then she had checked back in expecting to see a corpse. Instead, she was met with a very much alive annoyance. She knew only one person who could have known the cure and if she could have, she would have killed the stupid blonde prince.
It appeared a physical attack would not work on either of them. That meant an attack from the side, on one they would expect to be safe. This would require some planning, but one was already starting to weave itself in her mind. All she needed to do would be to tweak a few threads to get it all in place.
She looked down once more at the image in the water. Blue eyes flashed golden in the sunlight as the light struck golden flecks in his eyes as he smiled at his prince. Soon, those eyes would be lifeless and unseeing and he would no longer have anything to laugh at. Smiling, she flicked her wrist and the image faded away to leave the water once again clear. Turning, she headed for her workroom. She had things to do.
[A/N]: DUM DUM DUM, we come to the point of foreshadowing. Enjoy! ^3^