Merlin quickly glanced over at Arthur. He was in close conversation with Guy, the village leader. He leaned down to his mother.
"Those stories weren't true," said Merlin incredulously.
"Of course they were, I told you Merlin!"
Hunith had seen Merlin's look towards Arthur. "Aren't you going to tell him? Merlin gave her a doubtful look.
"Can you really handle yet another secret my son?"
"In your stories she's not exactly the kind of person Arthur would think highly of. It might make a difference."
"To what?"
"To his opinion of the book, he might change his mind about the quest."
"Merlin," Hunith said reproachfully "Whatever the quest is, don't go ruining your friendship with any more deception."
Merlin conveyed his agreement in silence, giving his mother a resigned look. Arthur called over impatiently.
"No offence Hunith but you will see him again you know".
"Yes sire, if you take good care of him for me." Merlin gave his mother a cringing look, she returned it with a shrug and a smile, then stepped back and waved them off.
Merlin pondered on his task. How to tell Arthur about his bizarre ancestor, the wild woman warrior who used every trick in the book to get whatever she wanted. At least those were the stories her mother told him and they were great, as fiction! But the fact that Aidith had written the travel journal did not quite fit with Merlin's view of her. The book was a scholarly work. Aidith was a peasant or at least that was how he always saw her, but now he thought of it, his mother never said she was, he always assumed it.
"What does our guide say is next Merlin?" called Arthur from a little distance ahead.
"You told me I wasn't to read and ride."
"Since when did you take any notice of me Merlin, just tell me what you have read."
Merlin pulled the book out of the pocket he had stuffed it into when Arthur turned around.
"We have to ride through the Wailing Forest."
"Come on Merlin it can't be called that."
"Yes it is and we should make sure we are unburdened or we will never get out."
"Unburdened? What exactly does that mean?" queried Arthur with a scornful tinge to his voice.
"When we stop you should read it, my translating everything doesn't really work, you have to read it for yourself."
That evening they made camp close to a stream. The night promised to be warm and they had no need of a fire, the moon was full and there was not the slightest hint of a breeze. They ate Hunith's food, which Arthur noted had somewhat improved.
What's this meat Merlin, ox, venison?
"Probably horse," answered Merlin a little apologetically. "When they are no more use, you know," Merlin made a slashing gesture across his throat.
"It's not so bad I suppose." said Arthur although the idea of eating any of his horses was tantamount to eating one of his knights, the thought of which dampened his appetite.
"My mother told me something back there."
"Something important I imagine, if you are bringing it up now," said Arthur
"More curious."
"Out with it then."
"She told me who wrote the travel journal," Arthur was suddenly very interested. "You showed it to her?"
"She found it in my pack and recognised it."
"How would she know about it?"
"It was written by an ancestor of ours."
"Merlin" You astonish me! Since when did a peasant family engage in dangerous quests, I thought that a knight at least must have written it, perhaps even someone of royal blood…..no offence."
"None taken. It baffles me too, my mother told me all these stories about her when I was a child."
"Her?" Arthur laughed loudly." No! Don't tell me it's a woman! You mean to say a woman made this journey alone, fought the battles, the beasts, that's utter fantasy Merlin."
"Are you forgetting Morgause?"
"Yes but she is a …" Arthur stopped himself making the connection. Was Merlin trying to tell him that there were more sorcerers in the family?
"Yes, Morgause is a sorceress," said Merlin. "But Aidith was not. She was a warrior, in her day women served alongside men and some gained great renown. She was one of them."
Merlin handed the book to Arthur. "Here, you read what she says about the forest."
Arthur took the book and sighed, he hated reading out loud. Merlin could not help smiling to himself.
To the West of the settlement of Ealdor some days ride lies the forest called Heaf, that is of Wailing or Lamentation Here all travellers must come face to face with themselves. I had heard of it from my father who had journeyed through it to the coronation of the King. He had told me of it's power so I was prepared and it served me well that I had remained pure and divested myself of blame for any wrongdoing that could be imputed to me, even those sins I had unwillingly committed.
"Rather self righteous isn't she?" commented Arthur. Merlin urged him to read on.
But had I known what waited for me there, I would have not entered with such arrogance. For the twelve sacred trees will seek it out, be it hidden in your very soul. All counsel I can give to any traveller who finds themselves at the threshold of Heaf is to spend the night in devotion and unburden your heart for the trees will read every corner of you unless you stand as one naked, and innocent as a babe.
"No chance for me then," said Arthur, his jaw set. No amount of devotion will wash me clean.
"You know Arthur," said Merlin, "a man could not atone for the death of a unicorn unless he was pure of heart. I think you have nothing to fear."
"I on the other hand…"
Arthur scoffed loudly."Whom have you wronged Merlin, you never killed anything in your life except perhaps a rat! And a magical snake from Valiant's shield."
"You don't know all there is to know about me Arthur."
Merlin expected Arthur to make light if this, to come back with a joke at his expense but Arthur grew suddenly serious
"Tell me then." Merlin noted the sharp edge to Arthur's voice. His playfulness had disappeared.
"I'm not ready to."
"What better time?" said Arthur, in exasperation.
A pained expression surfaced on Merlin's face. Arthur thought for a moment he was about to cry and held up his hands to stop him
"Okay, okay don't tell me anything, I don't need you to start blubbing, but Merlin," he added, "know that I shall not wait forever."
"What do you know about these sacred trees Merlin?" asked Arthur as they rode towards the Wailing Forest.
"Only what Gaius has told me," answered Merlin.
"They each have a quality or power and Gaius says they can be used for healing. Some for killing, like the Yew."
"Ah yes poisonous berries."
"They were made sacred to protect them from being destroyed, each tree is useful. Essential to our lives though we don't realise it. Quite how that works I don't think I ever fully understood no matter how many times Gaius tried to explain it to me."
" My father would not think very much of such vague ideas."
"And you Arthur," questioned Merlin, "what do you think of them?"
"I think Merlin that trees are trees until proven otherwise, but I've seen enough to know that it's foolish to second guess things."
The Wailing Forest was not like any other forest in the country. The trees were vast, not just huge but giants and crowded close; shoulder to shoulder. There was an understorey of dwarfed trees waiting for one of the giants to fall so it could take its place. Some of these smaller trees were already hundreds of years old. Coppices of hazel and ash that had not been cut in a century were now a tight cluster of trees, each rod grown to a great girth. And the oaks had sent out their low lateral branches like arms seeking out the other trees. Here and there these branches dipped down to touch the ground as though they rested on their journey, took root and moved on. Arthur and Merlin made a torturous way through, carefully leading their horses. Sometimes going long way round to avoid the trees they could not pass beneath. They had , in accordance with Aidith's advice tried to unburden themselves before they entered, each confessing to the other what they felt would be thir undoing but there was one thing in Merlin's heart that could not be stripped out so easily and he had no doubt that before he left the forest he would see Morgana again. He pledged that he would face whatever was in store for him rather than try and speak of it. For Merlin had still not unpicked it for himself, there was little chance he for Arthur or bear the revelations that would follow.
Eventually they came to a clearing. Here the hand of someone or something other than nature had made its mark for the trees made a perfect circle. Each twelfth part of the circle was a stand of trees distinct from the next and each tree within the stand was grown without hindrance to perfection. It took Arthur's breath away, it made the hairs on Merlin's neck rise. The grey bark of the Ash topped with its finger-like leaves, the bright green trunk of Holly singing out against the paper white of the Birch. There were no words to be said, for each traveller this was a moment they would not forget.
Merlin's voice broke their brief reverie. "There is someone here Arthur."
Arthur unsheathed his sword silently. "Where?"
Merlin nodded to the right and then to the left. Arthur turned to the left first to the stand of oaks greened with ivy and standing beneath them was the unmistakable figure of a man. Arthur squinted to better see him and noted he was not armed.
"It is Tom, Arthur," said Merlin flatly.
"Tom?"
"The Blacksmith."
Arthur's eyes widened, "Gwen's father," he breathed.
Arthur caught sight of the other figure. "And you Merlin have Morgana."
"Yes," said Merlin without turning to look. "I know."
Merlin tied his horse so it could graze and set off towards the woman waiting under the willow trees.
"Merlin," seethed Arthur "don't! It's some kind of trick."
Merlin stopped and turned to look at him.
"There is something I haven't told you Arthur".
'Here it is,' thought Arthur with a sudden nauseous anticipation.
" It's about Morgana."
Arthur felt a heavy blow of disappointment. "Now's not the time Merlin," he said, certain that Merlin would talk of lost love and no more of a confession than that " We have something we need to deal with here."
Merlin stretched out his arms in a gesture of surrender. "And this is how I need to deal with it Arthur, I'm sorry."
And with that Merlin turned and strode towards Morgana.