As Merlin walked through the trees of Heaf with Aidith beside him a hundred questions crowded into his head. They sat below the Willow trees and she looked at him with a knowing smile. ' What bewilders you most Merlin, start there.'
'Why do you look like Morgana? Why chose her likeness to hide behind. You must be old yet you appear to be younger than my mother.'
'Well you are direct Merlin I will give you that. But it is I who found myself looking at my own likeness when your friend appeared in Heaf. I was the one staring in disbelief on that day. But it is no great mystery Merlin. You should rightly say that she is like me, for I came first. Morgana must be of my line to bear such a resemblance.'
Merlin stared at Aidith. 'Morgana is my kin then?'
'Yes I believe she is. Tell me who her parents were.'
'I know her father was Gorlois, he was a great friend of Uther.'
Aidith shook her head at the unfamiliar name. 'There must be some connection to our family Merlin but I have been here for too long. Although I have some of the Seers power I do not know how it goes now with the house of Emrys.'
'We are not a 'house' Aidith. I lived with my mother in a small village and my uncle Gaius is the court physician at Camelot.'
Gaius is a family name,' said Aidith. 'It was the name of my eldest brother. I was surprised when I realised that the sword I gave him ended up in the hands of a Pendragon, we must be brought low in this new world. But it is of no consequence.'
Merlin had stopped walking. 'This means my mother is from a noble family, why did she not tell me?'
'It may be some time ago, but yes. She is perhaps not aware of it herself, it happens easily, just in a few short generations, the world can turn Merlin and you can be tipped out of it. Remember that won't you?'
'She told me stories about you,'
'Did she, did she really?' said Aidith in a dreamy way. 'Why don't you tell me one of them?'
Merlin felt strangely uncomfortable. He was tired and relating a story would just send him to sleep and although she was Morgana to perfection she was truly a sorceress trapped in time. And family or not he wasn't inclined to be too intimate. Merlin had never had a grandmother so he had no idea that a grandson is expected to indulge her. But at least Aidith had wisdom as well as a familial fondness for Merlin. She observed his discomfort. 'Very well Merlin, I can see I am pushing you. Let me show you what I have to show you and you can ask me all the questions you want until you feel comfortable with me.'
Merlin looked hesitant. 'No, don't worry. I shall not be offended at all. You have been through a lot and you have won the right to question me.'
Aidith led him to the stand of oak trees. She approached the central one and passed a hand across the trunk. A thin line of green light zipped through the bark following the line of a doorway. Aidith made a gesture with her hand twisting it as though she was turning a handle. The door opened. 'Now Merlin she said. 'I will show you something that will sustain you for many years.'
They walked through the door and straight away they were making their way down a flight of steps the surface of which was smooth as though many feet had walked them. Around them the body of the tree seemed to shift and move like a great animal. Merlin felt slightly sick. At the bottom of the stairs a wide passageway led to another door and a huge room excavated out of the earth, the roots of the tree snaked around the walls and in the centre of the room a huge bell hung. Aidith lifted her hand, and just as before she did not incant a spell but her eyes shone gold and Merlin realised she was like him, her magic was instinctual.
'It matters not now if we touch it she said, it will not sound. Now Merlin I will show you the future.'
They entered the final chamber, a cavernous place and across the floor there were horses, not in an aspect of death but sleeping and beyond the horses men, in light armour and one had an insignia, the Red Dragon of Camelot and others he recognised, Bors, Galahad, Gawain, Rupert, all the knights were here and more, Lancelot lay with them and many he did not know. And there in the centre of the chamber he saw Arthur. A kingly crown on his head, lying as though dead but with the rise and fall of his chest Merlin saw that he merely slept.
'What is this? Asked Merlin.'
'This is a thousand years hence Merlin and the resting place of the Once and Future King. He sleeps here waiting for the day he is called, he and his men. He is the eternal guardian of Albion ready to ride out to the aid of his people. No matter what becomes of this land of ours Merlin. Arthur never abandons it. She turned and pointed to the chamber of the bell. The people have but to sound this bell Merlin and Arthur will rise to rule again.'
Merlin approached the King. Arthur was older but still in the prime of his life.
Merlin laid his hand on his chest. He could feel the steady beat of his heart and below his eyelids, the flicker of dreams.
'Yet he dies.' said Merlin quietly. ' The Dragon said that Mordred will kill him.
'Yes, he dies Merlin'
'How does he die Aidith?'
That is not for you to know Merlin. Merlin felt a mixture of sadness and hope. 'But can I know if it is my doing?'
Aidith stared at him in surprise. 'Who told you so?'
'I think I suggested it to myself in the chamber of the stone.'
'Ah yes,' said Aidith. 'You explored all possibilities, but truly Merlin you know that there is never one future or one fate, nothing is certain and everything must be considered. That is how we avoid the blindness that can wither the soul. Do not doubt yourself Merlin, but neither should you believe in your own infallibility.'
Merlin looked into Aidith's eyes and the final shreds of suspicion fell away.
'Come now,' she said, holding out her hand. 'Let us return to the light.
With one last look at Arthur and his knight's Merlin left. He had no doubt that he would be the one to create this place and lay his friend to rest in this long sleep. But that was years hence and Merlin could not even imagine what kind of magic could do it.'
As they walked from beneath great oak trees Aidith stopped and turned to him. 'Arthur is calling you Merlin, we must go.'
*
Arthur covered most of the forest without finding any sign of his men. At least now the forest was not tricking him back to the centre. When he reached the boundary he could now look out across the land and what he saw amazed him. It was an entirely different landscape than the one they had crossed the day before. Instead of stark moorland there were lush fields, instead of stunted trees copses, rivers flowed towards the sea and heather grew over the high ground. Arthur dismounted by a stream, that raced out of the forest and down through a valley, its sparkling water glittered in the sunlight. He filled his water bottle. Arthur thought of Brand, he was no longer the King of a Barren kingdom, any man would be proud to be the custodian of this land. Arthur continued his search. There was only one place left to look and that was back at the circle, under the Yew trees.
A single body lay under the trees and did not stir at his approach. Arthur felt an immense sadness. It was Rupert. He knelt down beside him and bowed his head. Rupert's armour was red with blood now drying in the morning heat. Arthur could not properly see his face it was so besmeared and the man lay on his side still as death and half curled into the cold earth as if he were sleeping. Arthur laid a hand on his shoulder and rolled him onto his back. In an instant Arthur was falling, Rupert had grabbed his wrist and pulled him down, throwing him off balance, in one swift movement he hooked his leg around Arthur's knees, toppled him onto his back, slammed his forearm into his chest and slid his elbow into a locking position so Arthur could not move his neck. Out of the corner of his eye Arthur saw Rupert impassive face and a dagger poised to cut his throat.
'Rupert...' choked Arthur, glaring at his assailant. 'Open your eyes!'
'Arthur?' Rupert breathed, opening one eye cautiously. 'Sire…I 'm sorry…I…'
Rupert unlocked his arms and legs and pulled Arthur to his feet.
'How the hell can you do that without properly waking up? Asked Arthur.
Rupert shrugged, 'it's a game my father and I used to play.' Then with a smile he asked. 'Didn't hurt you did I?' Arthur grunted and nursed his bruises.
'It's good to see you too Rupert… I think… what happened to you in there? You are covered in the beast's blood I suppose, I thought it yours.'
'The last thing I remember is my sword going in. I think it got me though.' He gingerly twisted at the waist and took in a sharp breath as the pain hit him.' Arthur stepped forward and helped him remove his armour. Along his right side was a gash where the beast had caught him through the mail. 'And here,' said Arthur indicating a wound across Rupert's face. 'No!' groaned Rupert clutching his cheek. Arthur went to his horse and pulled the medicine bag out of his pack.
Arthur laughed, 'you won't be able to glare disapprovingly at Gawain now,' he said. Rupert looked chastened. 'Foolish vanity sire, disguised as morality.'
Arthur put a hand on his shoulder, ' A little vain maybe but I hold you as the very best of men.' Arthur's eyes shone in friendship. He had always liked and admired Rupert: although he could be closed and secretive, like his father, he could also show his approval and affection in ways Uther could not.
He gave Rupert his flask and he drank from it gratefully. Arthur scanned the circle. 'Rupert. Have you any idea where Gawain is?
'No sire I saw him as you did with Lillian.'
'Yes,' mused Arthur, 'he did not come into the castle or the forest, maybe he is not…' But before he could finish his sentence they heard a noise and shout went up. Without hesitation they both set off across the clearing, they had both recognised the noise: it was the sound of sword on sword.