Fire and Ice 3: Mind of Stone
AN: I'm so sorry this took so long but my laptop broke and the chapter deleted itself. I was so annoyed but I'm sorry about the wait!
I went to see The Fault in Our Stars today and I was crying buckets!
Here's chapter 4!
Chapter 4
Arthur had been told about the Banshee. When he was a child, his father would tell him stories about the horrible creature of dark magic.
He also remembered his aunt being taken by the Banshee when he was young.
She was laid on a table, with a younger version of Gaius. Arthur stood at the edge of the room, staring at his aunt with a worried face.
"Auntie?" He asked confused.
"Yes darling." His aunt's silky voice echoed throughout the room.
"What's happening?" The nine year old asked.
"I'm leaving you Arthur." She told him softly.
"Why?" Arthur asked.
"Because I'm not well Arthur. I'm going to another pace and hopefully, I'll be healed." Arthur's aunty smiled.
"Will you be back?" Arthur asked.
"No. I don't think so. But I'll tell the healers about you." She told him. "I love you,"
"I love you too!"
Her eyes closed and her shallow breathing turned into nothing. Arthur was guided out of the room by Gaius, to his father.
"Aunty went to another place." He said to Uther.
"She is getting healed."
Uther nodded sadly.
"Yes..."
It was a memory he would never forget. Stored away in a corner of his mind.
He was now sitting in the library, with a book on his lap. Puddles of light shone through the windows and most of the shelves were dusty.
Arthur opened the book and flipped through the pages until he found the one he was looking for.
The Banshee
The Banshee is a creature of dark magic. It is created by the most powerful sorcerers who most likely seek revenge.
It feasts of your energy, slowly and painfully until you die. The more powerful you are, the more painful it is. Your saddest memories become its food and it brings back the things that have haunted you in the past forcing you to remember.
It is very hard to destroy a Banshee because 1) it is invisible, 2) It's made of dark magic, 3) It does not stop until it has succeeded and 4) Not many people have that sort of power.
The people who are capable of destroying such a creature are:
Goddesses,
Warlocks,
Dragonlords,
Priestesses,
Powerful Sorcerers.
If you are trying to kill it, do not leave it too long because the longer it is with the victim, the harder it is to summon it.
Arthur read over the page again and again. They needed to find someone to help Merlin. Hopefully, the creature hadn't been on him too long so it would be easier.
Arthur ran through the halls to Gaius' chambers.
"Gaius." Arthur said, rushing through the door. He stopped when he saw Sir Leon, Gaius and Gwaine huddled round the young girl who had been unconscious earlier.
Gaius turned round, slightly surprised. "My Lord?"
"I'll tell you later." Arthur said, placing the book o the table. Gaius took one look at the title and nodded understandingly.
"How is she?" Arthur asked. Gaius looked at the girl. She had long, black tangled hair and her eyes were a grey colour although they looked far too old for her age.
"Recovering. She says she had encountered a creature. She was injured and it took one of their friends. They were just playing a game and something got one of them. She says it got her too but her friends helped her. They managed to get her to a healer before any real damage was done and then they left, that's when they ran into you." Gaius explained.
Arthur nodded. "And Merlin?"
"Not so well I'm afraid. If he isn't healed soon, I fear to think what will happen. He's getting sicker by the minute. It's making his magic go crazy, making him lash out. He's in his room though so at the moment, no one's been hurt. His skin is burning and he's getting small burn marks on his arms." Gaius looked sad. Arthur took all this in.
"I think I can help. In the book, it said that only few can kill the Banshee. If we ask the girl, we might be able to find her healer. Did she say anything about magic?" Arthur asked.
"She said a very powerful sorcerer healed her." Gaius informed.
"Very well. We'll find out the location of this sorcerer and leave in the morning. The girl can stay in the castle until she is able to leave; also, could you invite her and her friends to the feast tonight?" Arthur asked.
"Of course," Gaius replied. Arthur nodded again and left the room. Gaius picked up the book that Arthur had brought and flicked through. He read the words carefully and sighed.
"Leon, Gwaine, why don't you take..." Gaius looked at the girl.
"Clara," She said quietly.
"Why don't you take Clara to her friends and give her something nice to wear. Clara, the king has asked that you and your friends dine with him tonight. I hope that you will be able to make it." Gaius said.
"I'd be honoured." Clara said politely.
"Come on, you will be wanting to see your friends. They've been worried about you." Gwaine told her.
"Yes..." Clara smiled. "Thank you Gaius for looking after me."
"That's quite alright." Gaius told her.
They three of them left the room leaving Gaius alone in silence. He decided to check on Merlin.
"Merlin?" Gaius asked, opening the door slightly.
"Gaius." Merlin whispered. It was clear he was in pain. You could see it in his features; his eyes were scrunched up, his lips pressed tight together. His voice was hoarse and a layer of sweat covered his face.
"Oh my boy." Gaius murmured. The sight was horrible.
Gaius quickly went to get a cold cloth, not that it would do much, to put on Merlin's forehead.
After sitting with Merlin for a while, Gaius left to get ready for the feast tonight.
MERLIN
Clara was ecstatic to see her friends unharmed. She had missed them so much and they were all she had now.
"How are you?" Quinn asked. Quinn was Clara's best friend, ad it had been that way since they were 6 years old.
"I'm fine. Gaius healed me." Clara told them.
"Are you sure? You look a bit pale." Luke said worriedly. Toby nodded.
"I'm fine." Clara insisted. Her friends let it go but kept glancing at her to check she was okay.
"We were all invited to dine with the king and queen tonight. I said that would be fine... I hope it is." Clara told her friends.
"Seriously? Oh my gosh! The king?" Quinn asked.
Clara nodded, grinning.
"We get fancy cloths too; Sir Leon went to get us dresses." Clara added.
As if on cue, Leon walked through the door, with Gwen following.
"Here are some dresses for you. I think Guinevere is going to help you." Leon said smiling. He bowed his head and left.
The 4 teens bowed immediately.
"Please," Gwen smiled. "There's no need for that, and before you call me My Lady, I prefer Gwen if you don't mind."
Clara and Quinn were shocked but the boys stepped forward holding their hands out.
"We owe you our lives. Your physician saved Clara; you've let us stay in the castle and asked us to dine with you. We are grateful." Luke said shaking Gwen's hand. Toby done the same.
"It's no problem. We couldn't just leave you now could we?" Gwen grinned. "Now, how about you get dressed for the meal tonight. I'll help you girls, you two," She said to the boys, "should find something in the wardrobe."
The boys nodded and went to the wardrobe.
"Which one would you like?" Gwen asked the girls spreading the dresses across the double bed.
"I...uh... I like the blue one." Quinn said quietly.
"O it'd look lovely on you. It would bring out your eyes." Gwen gushed. She handed the blue dress to Quinn who went to get changed.
"How about you Clara. Which one is your favourite?" Gwen asked.
"Um..." Clara walked over to the dresses. "I don't know. They're all so beautiful."
"Most of them used to be the Lady Morgana's. Until she turned evil." Gwen said, a little coldly.
Clara didn't say anything. She didn't know how to respond to that.
"I'm sorry." Gwen apologised. "I shouldn't bring such a sensitive subject up."
"It's fine. There's no need to apologise. It's not your fault she turned against you, sometimes people just can't help it." Clara said without thinking.
"Clara!" Quinn hissed.
"Sorry," Clara said sheepishly. "I shouldn't have said that."
"It's okay," Gwen chuckled. "You're very wise Clara."
Clara smiled at Gwen. "Now a dress," Gwen said, turning back to the selection of dresses.
"How about this one." Gwen held up a lilac coloured gown with tiny jewels sewn onto the cuffs and the collar.
"It's beautiful." Clara said taking the dress from Gwen.
"Go on, try it on!" Gwen smiled. Clara rushed away and Gwen turned to the boys.
"How are you two getting on?" She asked. The boys were dressed in two very fine shirts and trousers.
"Very handsome." Gwen admired.
Just then, Arthur came crashing through the door.
"Guinevere?" He asked. He had somehow gotten himself all tangled up in a shirt. Clara giggled.
"Arthur," Gwen said trying to hold back her own giggles.
"Help." Arthur whined.
Gwen laughed and went over t her husband. She pulled the shirt over his head and through the arm holes.
"There." She said.
"Thanks," Arthur mumbled. She kissed his cheek before pushing him out of the room. All 5 of them burst into laughter.
"I'm sorry about him..." Gwen giggled.
They all finished getting dressed before heading to the dining hall to eat.
MERLIN
The dining hall was lit by large torches that hung on the wall. All sorts of food had been laid on the table waiting to be eaten. It looked delicious.
Clara and her friends were seated on large wooden chairs, with proper china plates and metal knives and forks. It was way different from what they had at home.
"So Clara, are you feeling okay now?" Arthur asked.
"Yes thank you." Clara replied, politely.
"That's good." Arthur said, putting some bread in his mouth.
After a few hours of pointless chat, endless food and laugher, a guard came crashing through the door.
"What is it?" Arthur asked, rolling his eyes.
"Sorry to interrupt sir." The guard said. "It's Merlin."
Arthur stood up, his face one of worry. Two more guards brought in the servant who looked pretty peaceful, until he started lashing out. His magic went mad, sending things up in the air, and making food hit walls. Arthur had to duck to dodge a flying plate.
Merlin himself was pale and obviously in pain, the guards were struggling to hold him down.
"We can't waste anymore time. We leave now." Arthur ordered. The knights instantly left the room to prepare the horses.
"Gaius." Arthur said walking over to the older man.
"He only has a few days left Sire." Gaius said sadly.
"Let us come with you." Clara said. Arthur looked over at her and her friends.
"We know where the man is and we know the quickest possible route. Please. It's the least we can do." Clara offered.
"Very well. You better get ready." Arthur said.
Merlin was shaking, as if he was cold, but his skin was burning hot. He kept whimpering and groaning quietly.
"We'll save you Merlin. I know we will." Arthur could only hope his words were true.
That was a very long chapter. Almost 2000 words! Well, you guys deserve it, for putting up with my lack of updating!
I hope you liked it!
Bye! x