more chapters for you. =D yay! =D well, this did not go as i planned but hey, who cares? i would also like to add a little reminder of what Artemis's visions of the future were since it's tedious to go back and look: A woman nearly dead in a forest(happened), the same woman holding out something to Artemis(happened), Artemis kissing another man(happened), Artemis begging to Arthur on her knees and Arthur yelling at her in fury, a pool of blood on a cave floor(happens in this chapter), a group of people dressed in black cloaks using strange abilities, Merlin in chains, Morgana becoming queen, Arthur and Artemis together in a cave, a bolt of lightning striking Artemis, and darkness. i will try to get another out tomorrow. it's MLK Jr. day tomorrow so i don't have school. yay! =D
For the first time in her life, the base was silent as Arthur, Merlin, Jack, Gwen, Elyan, and Ajax entered. On the way, Ajax went on a long and annoying explanation of the Servants of the World to Gwen and Elyan. Artemis just wanted to magic them there, but Ajax refused. He must keep up his non-magic self or something stupid like that.
The inside of the base was sickening. Blood was mixed with the dirt on the floor. As they entered, bodies littered the ground. Some were mutilated and hacked to pieces. Artemis stared in shock at all the bodies. Gwen looked like she was about to be physically ill. The bodies were large in numbers. Artemis herself almost threw up, but she had other things to worry about. She turned and ran down a hall.
"Artemis!" Ajax yelled after her. She ignored him. She needed to see if the Masters were alive. She threw open the doors to the dining/meeting hall. The bodies of the Masters of the Northest Servants of the World laid there inside the room. Some were on the floor; some were still in their seats. Artemis chocked out a strangled breath. Ajax appeared in the door. He walked in solemnly.
"Check for survivors," he told the others. Artemis walked among the bodies toward the struggling breath of one alive. Gwydion laid with his eye fading. He was bleeding badly from his stomach. He was past the point of no return. Artemis leaned down to him. His head sat in her lap.
"Master Gwydion," she whispered trying to press back tears. She wouldn't show weakness not here.
"Ah, Ambrosine. You came. I thought you would. I hoped you would," he said as if these would be his last words.
"What happened?"
"It doesn't matter," he whispered. "Ambrosine… there is something you must know. Power comes our souls. You're rejecting it for the love of one. You're scared. I understand. You fear you will die for magic, but… carpe dieum," he said. "You will bring peace Ambrosine. You are not the child they claimed. In the Prophecy Vaults… nine… there is something you must see. It is for you. When the Electus try to end it, you show them. You show them," he muttered. "It was destined. Become a good… person," he muttered. He was starting to go. "Tell… Erus… I'm sorry. It was my one regret. She deserved to be happy… Don't take that from you because of my own stupidity. Be better than me." That was it. His eyes shut. Artemis's tears fell for the man she considered her teacher, her master, her friend, and her family. He had given her life when no one else would. He saved her from the darkness, and now like all humans he has been taken by death to the world beyond. It was inevitable, but Artemis wish it wasn't. She wished people weren't taken away too soon from the ones that love them, but all she could do was wish. It would change nothing.
Artemis set his head down gently on the cold marble floor. She looked at the doors of the vaults across the room. The vaults laid in the war/dining room to always allow the Masters of the Servants of the World access. There was always someone in the room, so it allowed for protection as well.
Artemis went to the gold double doors. They were inscribed in the Old Language. Artemis stared up at them. What was in there that Gwydion wanted her to see? She had never been allowed access to them.
She threw them open despite Ajax's objections. Artemis went to section nine. She was looking at dozens of prophecy's with not only Merlin and Arthur's name on them but hers. Artemis swallowed. Artemis started pulling them down. She read each briefly, but there was a few specifically that caught her eye. They were prophecy's written by Ambrose himself. They were protected by enchantments. Artemis didn't have to worry about them. They were already broken when the rest of the enchantments on the base had fallen. Artemis took them without looking before going out into the dining room.
"Saoirse is alive as is Galen. Tynan and Eleanor aren't here. I think they betrayed us. Only a Master can break the enchantments," Ajax said. Artemis nodded gently. She looked at the ground trying to think something… anything. She was blank. She felt as though she was numb from everything.
"Sit down," Jack's voice said. He gently pulled out Gwydion's chair. She sat. Artemis looked down the table. The bodies no longer sat in the chairs, but the blood still stained the table. She stared down the empty table. Something sparked in her. She sat up tall. She could see imaginary people sitting in the chairs talking. So this is what it would be like as a Master. "Artemis?" came his questioning voice. Artemis looked ahead.
"I refuse to be ignored any longer," she told Jack. "I'm summoning the Electus now." She stood.
"Artemis, you can't!" Jack yelled at her. He gripped her arm. Artemis hit his hand away.
"Watch me," she snapped. Artemis took in a breathe. She held her hands to the sky. Ajax grabbed her hand and put it down.
"I know how you feel, but… you can't do something like that. You know that. Summoning them allows for them to see into your inner soul. You would be charged specifically with the Law of Drust. You're burnt out anyway. Artemis, leave it to me. I'll chew them out for you," he said. Artemis paused for a moment. She nodded. Artemis allowed her hands to fall to her side. "Sit down." Artemis sat back down and within seconds she was sleeping.
"Tired huh?" Jack asked.
"She's worn out," Ajax said. "She's had no time to rest these last few days."
"So much for a vacation," Gwen muttered. "She's even worse than before."
"Give it a few days. The Electus will come and clean this place up. The families of the dead will need to be called too," Ajax said. "Gods, this is practically the entire northeast region's novices. This will mean war. Gods, we haven't been in war since the Battle of Lumen against the Nocturnals." Ajax ran his fingers through his hair.
"Is there anything we can do?" Arthur asked now in prince mode. Ajax thought for a moment.
"For now, can you bring Artemis to her room?" Ajax asked. "She needs proper rest." Arthur nodded. He gently picked her up. He brought her to her room. He lingered for a moment staring at her sick form. He took in a breath before turning away.
Three days. Artemis slept for three days straight until she finally awoke. She rose and went to the hall. Those of Camelot and of course Jack and Ajax sat in there discussing.
"Artemis," Ajax said. They all looked to her. She sat. "I was starting to think you would never wake up."
"What's happening?"
"The Electus… still will not come. Not for another month or so."
"What?" Artemis questioned. "Why the hell not!" Ajax was silent. There was something worrisome in his eyes. "Ajax?"
"It was not just our region, Artemis. It was… all the regions. The Servants are in mass disarray. There are few of us left. The Electus were attacked too. That was a mistake. They have people in questioned now."
"What are they going to?" More silence. "Ajax?" He looked around the table.
"Artemis, war is inevitably going to break out," he said. "You have never experienced an all out war with the Servants. The Servants war is… it destroys everything that ends up as a battle ground. Artemis… if war is declared, they will not let you battle with us. The Electus will be sure that you are confined."
"What! Why!"
"They fear you will go to them if they offer you things that the Servants cannot."
"But… I wouldn't. The Servants of the World are my family." Ajax sighed and nodded.
"I know," he replied. "But… it's too late. They've declared war. They've called for your arrest. It's time for you to disappear, Artemis. Go before it's too late."
"You would… betray them for me."
"You are the future of the Servants of the World. I'm not betraying the Servants. I'm saving them." Artemis took a breath.
"I will stay in Camelot. Erus won't think me stupid enough to stay were she would know where I am. I will remain quietly, and I will make an attempt to try and find out things about the Masters. Keep me updated on the war." Ajax nodded. "What about Galen and Saoirse?"
"They will live. They were moved already to Zhi where he is taking care of them." Artemis nodded. "I would leave soon, Artemis. And be weary. It seems that it is impossible to know who to trust now."
"I know," she said with a sigh. "I know. We shall leave tomorrow at dawn." Ajax nodded.
"That would be best," he told her. Artemis ran her fingers through her hair.
"What about Master Gwydion and the others? They will be burnt in the Isle of the Blessed, won't they? It's tradition for the Masters of the Servants." Ajax nodded.
"Erus will be the one conducting the funeral service. It will take place when they arrive. The bodies will be placed in the Eternal Catacombs until then to preserve the bodies." Artemis nodded. She rubbed her forehead in stress. "Will you be okay?" Ajax asked worried for her. She nodded again.
"I need to be alone," Artemis said standing. She left the room and went to the indoor oasis that Gwydion used to always go. She sat in the forest thinking. She pulled the scroll out that she had gotten from the vaults. Artemis opened the scroll and read.
Arthur, Gwen, Elyan, Jack, Ajax, Artemis, and Merlin arrived back in Camelot. They were greeted by both Rhian and Ava.
"Artemis," Ava said worried. "What happened? A Servant came here a day ago and demanded to see you. I told them you no longer reside in Camelot."
"Good girl," Artemis said messing up Ava's hair. "There was a massacre. Gwydion is dead."
"What?" Ava said in shock.
"The Servants want to arrest me. They're going to war." Ava just stared unsure what to say. Rhian pushed past Ava.
"What are you going to do?" Rhian asked.
"I'm staying here. I'm going to learn as much about the Masters of the World as I can." Artemis sighed. She ran her fingers through her hair. "Rhian, I need you tell me everything you know about the Masters of the World and the future Servants of the World. Ava, you are not a Servant, but you are my student. Help me set things right." Ava nodded.
"Of course, Artemis. I'm right beside you."
"Me too." Rhian and Arthur said.
"No," Artemis said. "Rhian, if you die, it could me problems in the future. Arthur, if you die, the present and future will be in trouble. We cannot mess up the time line anymore than we already have. Merlin, the same goes for you."
"And if you die!" Rhian demanded. "Or Lady Ava!"
"\We won't die," Artemis said.
"Please, Artemis and I together could take down an army," Ava exaggerated. Rhian looked between the two grinning. She decided they both were stupid, really, really stupid.