Well, and thanks for reading I finally have my own computer back! yay so hopefully I'll get more chapters done on a regular basis soon as always thanks for the reviews comments and suggestions welcome.;)

Chapter four

Arthur stared at Tailisen's outstretched hand. He yearned very much to know exactly what it was Tailisen wanted to "show" him. Especially, if it had to do with Merlin and this prophecy business. He looked over at Merlin and then back to Tailisen. "I can't exactly go wandering off into the woods with you and leave Merlin unguarded."

Tailisen's eyes dance with amusement as he waggles his fingers at Arthur. "You know Penndragon you're concern about the young warlock's safety is most amusing. Considering it was you who nearly beat him to death earlier this night."

Arthur took a menacing step forward. Eyes blazing with anger and shame. Tailisen raises his hands palms out in placation. "Forgive an old man, I realize now that you truly regret what happened. Do not worry for your Merlin's safety. I have used a very strong healing magic. So that by tomorrow all will be healed except for maybe some discoloration. For I know how important it is to him to be by your side. Also, the blanket I covered him with is not an ordinary one, it has been enchanted to make anyone who lies beneath it invisible. Bandits could walk within inches and never see him."

Arthur watched Tailisen... "Go with a strange sorcerer, to who knows where? This is insanity! Then again I've done worse in the name of honor why not for truth? The truth from a sorcerer...strangely though I feel as though I can trust what this strange man says... What if Merlin comes to? What if he's disoriented? I can't just leave him alone. Trusting his safety to a magical blanket. If anything should happen to him here, now... "

Tailisen stands there with a bemused look on his weather beaten face. As if he could hear Arthur's inner struggle and was just waiting for him to choose. As if this was a test of his character. Lending credence to the mind reading theory. As do his next words " Merlin will be perfectly safe, the blanket shall hide him should anyone passed by. Do not worry the healing spell I put on him will keep him asleep and healing until we return. As I've said I mean neither of you any harm. I was sent to ensure that the prophecy shall come to pass, this requires both of you too be well and together. This rift between you must heal. There can be no doubt in one's heart about the other. So you must come with me. See what there is to show, see what the young warlock has been so afraid to share with you. Because I believe it is only then that you two will be able to truly trust one another and meet your full potential. You have my word no harm shall befall the young warlock."

"His name, is Merlin" Arthur studied Tailisen a few seconds longer. Tailisen cocked his head he wore an expression that Arthur couldn't exactly read. Amusement and something else "Merlin... Merlin yes, indeed I do apologize." On the end of that strange exchange Arthur reaches out and accepts Tailisen's outstretched hand. "Oh, you may want to hold your breath I hear it helps."

"What-" just then Arthur's words were cut off by the strangest feeling he'd ever felt in his life. Sort of swirling like running in circles to long as a child and tingling from head to toe. He tried to look around but he couldn't see anything but a great fall of mist. Just as he was about to panic he came to himself again. He could feel that he was still gripping Tailisen's hand. Yet when he looked around he could tell he wasn't in the same place as before. Merlin was nowhere to be found. Before he could ask questions he stumbled away from Tailisen's grasp to be sick in the nearest bush. "Oh dear, it's been so long, I had forgotten what effect that mode of travel Has on pure mortals. I did tell you to hold your breath did I not?" Tailisen didn't wait for an answer. "Well it doesn't matter there was no time to travel the long way."

Arthur, finally having stop being sick. Looked up in confusion. "What are you going on about? What in the hell was that? Where are we?" Looking around his surroundings look vaguely familiar. Yet, I can't place it. "I know this place ..." Tailisen smiles, I suppose you do… someone in your position..."

"Where are we?" asked Arthur,

"You said you recognize this place. So why ask me where you are? Unless, you do not trust yourself. In which case my answer would make little difference." Tailisen replies wearing an expression somewhere between perpetual innocents yet amused. Arthur starts to make an angry reply. Then just shakes his head chuckling. "Something funny Penndragon?"Tailisen asked, Arthur shakes his head dismissively. "Not really it's just that, your last answer. Reminded me of some of Merlin's ramblings. It makes me wonder?" Tailisen raised a quizzical eyebrow that would have made Gaius proud. This made Arthur grin even wider. "Are all Sorcerers born with a talent for the cryptic? Or is it part of the training at magic school?" Tailisen let lose a strange laugh that sounded oddly like wind through the trees.

"Glad to see you still have your sense of humor Penndragon! However, we did not travel all the way here for a geography lesson come... come... follow me." With that He was off moving through the trees without a look back to see if Arthur was following. Tailisen is moving at a surprisingly smooth pace for a man his age moving through the woods. "Is he floating? Or are the woods themselves giving way to his passage? Oh come on, now I really am losing it!"

Just as Arthur caught up with Tailisen He noticed that indeed the woods themselves seemed to truly be giving way to his passage where branches and bushes clung to Arthur's hair and cloak. Yet as Tailisen passed it was as though the growth simply was not there.

Arthur was forming a question. When he looked up and saw that they had come to the mouth of a cave. He expected Tailisen to stop but he continued into the cave without missing a step. Arthur halted, then from within floated the words "Are you coming Penndragon? Or has the famed courage of Camelot been greatly exaggerated?" "No choice, right then. I swear Merlin, if I die in here I will come back and haunt you." Arthur said, fighting a smile at the thought of haunting Merlin. Arthur stepped through the dark maw of the cave. To find that the inside was brighter than he expected. This could have been due to the crystals jutting sporadically out of the walls in different places reflecting the light from the doorway. The strangely illuminated interior of the passageway made it easy for Arthur to follow. Until the passage lead into what could only be the main chamber of the cave. Here Arthur found Tailisen standing with his back to the passageway. In front of what appeared to be a spring or natural pond of some sort. Since Tailisen has his back to him, Arthur decides to take this time to look around a little better marveling at all the crystals scattered about the cave. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He'd never seen anything so beautiful not even in the royal treasury of Camelot... Well wait... I have seen one thing. The crystal... The crystal my father was obsessed with once. What was it called...? The crystal of Niethed I believe, yes. That was it.

Arthur comes to stand beside Tailisen.

"I have seen a crystal like this before in the vaults of Camelot." Yes, I suppose you would Have, as I once told Merlin… the crystal you speak of was hewn from these very walls." "My father said, that the Crystal in the vaults was the only one of its kind …." "He believed what most do. That the Crystal he possessed was the only one of its kind and that's for the best. Very few people ever see this place. This is the crystal cave. It is believe to be the very heart of magic itself. If this place were to be destroyed then so would all magic and all magical beings. So usually it's only the most powerful seers and magic users that are shown this place when there is need. As there was when I brought the young warl-I mean Merlin here." Tailisen said.

"But then-" Arthur started to ask, but Tailisen cut him off and directed him to look at the water in the small well. For now that he was closer it did indeed look more like a shallow well then a pool or pond. With a smile that was starting to make Arthur nervous. Tailisen said, "Time is passing look up on the water and hopefully you will find what you need." Arthur nodded feeling like he should apologize for something though as usual in these situations he had no clue for what. He looks into the clear water and as he watched the water fogged. Arthur felt Tailisen's hand on his shoulder his other hand passed over the water as he spoke words Arthur did not understand. Out of the corner of his eye Arthur saw Tailisen's eyes flash gold. Then before him the fog cleared revealing images. "What is this?" Arthur asked.

"What you need to see of course!"

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