Author's Note: Another instalment of my 'I'm-sorry-for-really-short-chapters-sequence'! After this chapter things really start heating up so watch this space! Hope you likey! Enjoy! Review and I will love you! (Haha, it rhymes!)
Chapter Twelve
Mesmerised
The flames rose up at least a foot in the air like ribbons of scarlet. The flames reflected in Arthur and the Knights' eyes spookily. Emrys then reduced them down again, constantly chanting spells and controlling the fire. The flames then separated into individual flames which then took the form of people. They danced around each other. There were men dancing with women in flowing, sleek dresses and their hair falling down their backs in soft curls. They waltzed round Emrys' hand for a second then transformed into animals. There were rabbits hopping around the side, deer prancing in between the other creatures, tiny mice scampering around, a single fox padding in amongst the other animals and all kinds of birds circling the space above them. Slowly they began to grow. As they grew, they became too big to fit on his hand so they merged together, creating one huge ball of fire sitting on Emrys' hand. It kept growing and slowly began to levitate off his hand. The ball was soon about four foot wide. Then, without warning, it formed into a giant beast. Wings sprouted from the sides of its body. Small legs grew from the bottom, knife sharp talons emerging from the tips of the toes. A head formed, displaying a hooked beak that you could tell could rip easily through flesh. But the eyes were most fearful of all. They burned crimson with evil. The huge wings opened a little and the beast fluttered up onto Emrys' shoulder protectively. The fearsome beak opened and the eagle's shrill cry pierced Arthur and the Knight's trance instantly. They looked puzzled for a moment but then the confusion was lost in the fear that spread across their faces. The bird stretched out its great flaming wings and took off from Emrys' shoulder. It swooped towards them, its talon's facing directly at them, open and ready to strike. Emrys didn't wait to see what his eagle would do to them. He turned just in time to see Lancelot running round a corner right at the end of the road. He would have to run fast.
Lancelot wondered what the harsh screech had been. He had been tempted to turn back and investigate but he knew he had been assigned a task so he would have to do it. He could see the woods in the distance. He ran even faster as they loomed closer. He trusted that Arthur and the Knights would keep the Thief away for another ten minutes that would give him enough time to reach Gwaine and let him start his search. Lancelot didn't feel jealous at all. It was weird. Usually he would have been green with envy at this point. But no. He was fine with Gwaine taking the reward. It was like he had a feeling in his gut that told him he really wouldn't want to go. As if something bad would happen. But now Gwaine was in that position… Did that mean something bad might happen to him? Should he warn him? No. It was only a feeling. Anyway, what exactly would he say to him? 'Oh, um, hi Gwaine. Look I've got this feeling that you shouldn't go on this thing.' It was stupid. But he had to stop thinking about that now as he had reached the forest edge.