The Hunter of Gelder

Lillian had packed enough food for an army. Rupert and Gawain revelled in it after eight days of minimum rations. Lillian spoke with Rupert about the art of camp cooking which they both shared a passion for. Her son sat at Merlin's feet in quiet adoration. He had taken to him immediately and Merlin was rather at a loss, he hadn't had much contact with children, the only young boy he had known was Mordred and he was thankfully not typical. But neither was Aiden. He was quiet and contemplative, unlike either of his parents Aiden did not speak very much, and did not even appear to be friendly but he was a truly gentle soul. His seeming shyness hid his perceptive nature. Nothing escaped him.

As they ate they talked, the knights, the blacksmith and his wife. Merlin left the explanations to them as they had so often met travellers and knew how to measure their speech, to slowly reveal whatever they needed to and not tell more than they wanted. Rupert and Gawain paid close attention and Merlin heard a gasp from Gawain as Lillian explained the Forest that lay before them unseen.

'You have been here Merlin? Asked Gawain in awe, you have escaped it.'

'I don't really know how, but it was one of the hardest things I have ever done,' said Merlin 'I wouldn't wish it on anyone.'

'But you would go back?' queried Rupert.

'There is no question in my mind,' replied Merlin.

Rupert looked at him with growing respect. He had always liked the Prince's servant, it was true he was not like any other servant he had ever known and there was a certain familiarity between him and Arthur that some disapproved of. But Rupert was not a man to judge another on anything but merit and Merlin was one of the finest men he had met. His devotion to his master was more than that of an ordinary servant. Rupert would equate him with any of the knights, willing to lay down his life for his sovereign.

'So,' said Rupert, turning to Brand and Lillian. 'What plans do you have to get into this Forest.'

'We can enter it only as part of an illusion,' said Lillian.

'And you can do that can you?' asked Rupert, 'become part of something that is not real, enter a dream?' he looked at her with discomfort. 'Sounds like sorcery to me.' Rupert looked over at Brand to see if he was going to take exception to his words.

But Brand just looked at him and nodded in assent.

'It is magic,' said Lillian simply 'and since you sat here with us and broke bread you are accomplices in it, like it or not.'

Gawain leapt to his feet, his face flushed with anger. 'I will not tolerate a sorcerer to live!' he announced, reaching for his sword.

'Gawain, sit down boy!' demanded Rupert, 'sit down and stay your hand.' Rupert turned to Merlin.

'You realise the gravity of this Merlin, back in Camelot your friends would not live long.'

'We are not in Camelot Sir Rupert.' said Lillian gently.

'Indeed we are not.' Rupert looked down at the blackened earth around their campfire. He glanced at Gawain who still kept his hand on his sword hilt.

Rupert rose and walked over to where they had found the tracks made by Merlin's horse.

'Here is where your horse left the Forest Merlin.' he said. 'Do whatever it takes to get Arthur out, but if you go in there, I come with you.'

Lillian and Merlin were sitting amongst the ruins of the castle.

'I don't think Sir Rupert will be able to follow me into the Forest,' said Merlin. Unless he is willing to confess all his wrongs the Forest will swallow him up. Does he know that?'

'I have talked with him and he has spoken frankly with me. He has read the journal and already knew what was required of him. I think he has been preparing for this all through his journey.'

'I always thought there was more to him than the swordplay,' said Merlin in admiration. 'He is one of Uthur's most trusted Knights I am astonished he will submit to this.'

Sir Rupert is a remarkable man, said Lillian. I have already sent him into Heaf and he is playing his part well.

Merlin looked at her in surprise.

'Now Merlin,' she continued. 'It is time for you to follow him. It will not be easy. You must surrender to me. We will guide you and even if what we need you to do is unpleasant, even if your senses scream out against it you have to trust me.

Merlin nodded. Not only was he without magic himself, he would now have to surrender to another's will. Lillian saw the doubt in his eyes. Have you ever been at the mercy of another sorcerer Merlin?

'Briefly, once,' said Merlin, looking down at his feet.

'It was frightening?' offered Lillian.

'No,' said Merlin, hesitantly, 'it was exhilarating at first. It was a mingling of my power and his. For a moment, I believed I was the most powerful thing on earth, then he overwhelmed me and I lost myself.' Merlin looked up at her. 'Only for a second though,' he gave her a half-hearted smile. 'Then I sent him back to the grave.'

Lillian looked at Merlin in wonder. 'You are a curiosity Merlin, she said. 'I hope you don't cast me off into oblivion.'

Merlin laughed ruefully, 'no fear of that.'

'I will send you at dusk into the Forest but it will be morning there, time there does not equate with ours, Arthur will think he has been in Heaf for weeks and he will not recognise you. Remember we are setting him a test and he will need to prove that he has learned something, so this will not be easy.'

Now you need to picture the stone. Can you remember what it looks like.

Merlin nodded. 'Good. Keep its image in your mind, see it Merlin…. reach out for it.' Merlin felt a rushing sound in his ears. He had instinctively closed his eyes to picture the stone. When he opened them there was no sign of Lillian and the Forest of Heaf, stretched out before him.

Arthur had resumed his tour of the Forest. He could now tell when he would be turned back, there was a different feel to the forest just before he found himself on the way back to the circle, it was as though the air was thicker, a band of cold air and warm air meeting. He wondered if there was a breach somewhere in this barrier and he tried to test it. Leaning into it to find some variation. Something like, a crack in its fabric. Cabal trotted behind him, sometimes bounding ahead after some imaginary prey.

They were passing below the fir trees where the forest was darkest when Arthur caught sight of something moving just at the edge of his field of vision, it was not a sighting, more of a sensation. His skin crawled, he felt as though he were fixed to the spot. Someone was watching him. Someone crouching in the shade of the trees He wanted to call Cabal who had disappeared ahead of him but Arthur had the distinct feeling that whatever was watching him was not about to reveal itself and shake hands. He waited for another movement so he could locate him precisely. Arthur was half obscured by one of the trees, he knew he would not make a good target and he slowly slipped back into cover. He heard a slight movement and wondered if the man had indeed seen him, he appeared to be moving off. Arthur drew his sword, praying it would not make a sound as it slid from its scabbard and regretting that he had discarded his crossbow. He moved cautiously out from his hiding place. He could just make out the hunter ahead of him. He was lithe and young stripped to the waist, like the forest people his father had told him of, the hunters of Gelder. He blended with the trees, his hair his garments, even his skin seemed to change colour as he moved from the shade into the dappled light. Although he was slight, he moved with a power in his limbs like a wild thing, his hair a shining waterfall over his pale shoulders that even as he watched him seemed to darken as he moved out of the sunlight. The man suddenly stood stock-still and with a sinking heart Arthur knew he had seen Cabal, but before Arthur could react the hunter let lose an arrow. Arthur had not even seen him raise his bow. Cabal let out a single awful cry. At the same moment, Arthur shouted his name. In three strides Arthur was on top of the man and knocked him to the ground the hunter rolled away and scrambled to his feet with his bow levelled at Arthur, but Arthur was quick, and stepped swiftly towards him, knocking the bow from his hands with his sword and bringing it back slicing through the air towards his throat, Arthur saw his face, he was no more than a boy, his eyes wide with surprise. And Arthur felt something stay his hand, something pull him out of himself, he reigned in his anger and the sword did not find its mark but fell harmlessly to the ground. He lifted the bow and broke it against a tree as he hurried to find Cabal, but the dog was not lying where it should, there was blood on the leaves but no Cabal, Arthur looked about him, the trees seemed even darker than he remembered, in fact everything was growing dark as though night was coming too quickly and in the dark Arthur heard a familiar voice. Behind him, the hunter was calling him. Merlin was calling him.