So, this chapter is like a mix of the eye of the phoenix and the end to the cliffhanger thing. i added them together mainly because otherwise this chapter would have been way too short and i didn't feel like doing that since i had the other done anyway. anyway yeah enjoy. next chapter tells us who Amice is, promise.
"No," Artemis said in disbelief when she finally comprehended what he had told her, but still she would not accept this. This man was not the founder of the Servants of the World. He couldn't be. "No, that's impossible. Ambrose died centuries ago. His students were forced to kill him after his loss of insanity, and… and he wouldn't do this. In the end, he may have been dangerous and potentially mentally unstable, but I know he wouldn't kill those who are completely free of quilt. Ambrose would not do this!"
"But I am doing this, Ambrosine," he said. He thought for a moment before shaking his head. "That's weird. Do you mind if I call you Artemis?"
"Prove that you say who you are," Artemis demanded ignoring his polite request. The man sat in a chair across from Artemis. His calm was unnerving. The man in front of her had killed her family. He had killed a man she had considered like a father, and he knew this well, and yet he was so calm and friendly. She clenched her fist resisting the attempt she wanted to make on his life.
"No need to be hostile," he told her. "Here," he said rolling up his sleeve to his tunic. He rolled his arm slightly so Artemis could see a carving in his arm. It was a Celtic symbol burnt into his arm. It was a mark he got in a battle with a dark sorcerer. A battle that practically all servants knew about. This was a mark that all Servants knew Ambrose bore. It was his symbol, and for the Servants it always had been. "You think I would do this to myself? If you still don't believe me quiz me. I'll tell you anything you want to know?"
Artemis was silent. She stared at him. There was no lie in his eyes. He had infinite power, the strongest she's ever felt. He looked like Ambrose. He had the mark of Ambrose. He knew her, but why would he do this? Why? He was once the greatest and strongest sorcerer the world had ever known. He was the founder of the Servants of the World. He had wanted to help humanity. He was an idol and practically a god. He had done so much for the world and for the Servants, so why? Why was he doing this? She didn't understand. How could such a good man become so evil? It seemed in probable. The question of why was just as unnerving as his calm facade.
"Because humanity still suffers," he said answering her unspoken question of why. Could he read her thoughts? "Yes dear, I can. It's quite a useful art."
"It's an invasion of privacy," she told him strongly. Reading thoughts of others had been a banned art for many years. It was not only rude and immoral, but a rather dangerous ability if someone knows the skill.
"Perhaps," he replied.
"So tell me, if you are Ambrose-"
"Which you already believe I am."
"How are you alive? Where have you been? Why are you doing this?"
"You really think my own students could kill me? I was and am the strongest being in existence. My magic has kept me as young as you, and probably even healthy." He eyed her carefully. "From the look of you, you can't even perform the simplest spell, can you?"
"No," Artemis whispered after a moment.
"As for where I've been. I've been gathering people to my cause… well, not the whole time, I was recovering the first few hundred years and strengthening myself. I was also observing humanity, and then, I started gathering supporters and teaching them. As for why… well it's obvious isn't it?" he questioned. "Humanity suffers, Artemis. It needs to be ruled by people like you and I. People with clear ideals and goals. Not people like Uther Pendragon," he said still very calm. "You have seen much war, Artemis. You have seen the darkness of rulers. Think of what John did to you, to you're fiancée. Think of what Uther does to your kind, Artemis. Think of what he would do to your brother if he knew. Think of what he almost did to you. We can stop this war, Artemis. You and I can do this." He touched her hand gently. He was a persuasive man.
"I have no power," she whispered starting to cave into him.
"That can fixed. You are subconsciously denying them. That can change." Artemis wasn't convinced, and Ambrose knew it. "Think about the world you and people like you could live in, Artemis. You could have anything you desire. You could be with your prince," Ambrose said, "without having to hide who you are. Without the Servants of the World, you could do as you wish. You could be with him. You could rule with him." Artemis for just a second thought about the possibility, and then he mentioned the Servants of the World, and she remember everything they did for her. They may restrict her, but without them, she wouldn't even be alive or exist. They were family, and no matter what family does you stick by them no matter what. At this realization, she could see the mask of lies he hid behind. She smacked his hands away and stood in fury.
"The Servants of the World are my family, and I would never betray them! They are the reason I am here today! I made an oath to protect the world and to serve the world! I swear on my life and the life of all those I care about that I will not cave to you, because you are wrong! You are a man hiding behind a mask of false lies! I would rather die than join you! You killed a man who is like a father to me! I will not join you in your goal to make the rivers run red!" Ambrose stood calmly, but there was something angry in his eyes. It was confirmed when the fire suddenly roared into a huge shot of fire. His eyes were a vivid red.
"Then you will suffer for your choice! I will burn your soul!" He said reaching his hand out. This was it. But before he could even put a hand on her, Amice threw herself on Artemis and transported them out of there. They landed in front of Ava, Jack, and Everett. Artemis looked terrified.
"Amice?" Jack questioned recognizing the girl.
"Are you okay?" Amice asked. Artemis nodded. They stood.
"Amice…," Artemis said surprised. "You saved me."
"I'm sorry, Artemis," Amice said. "I was blinded. When he tried to kill you, I knew… you were right."
"Amice," Artemis breathed. They hugged.
The coin around Artemis's neck burned. She got a flash of Arthur dying. "We're done here!" she announced. "Side trip time to save the prat-"
"That you love," Ava teased.
"Shut up!" Artemis replied getting on her horse. Artemis looked down at Amice. She looked up. "Sister," Artemis said. She held her hand out. "Join me in bringing real peace." Amice looked at her hand before gripping it and getting on Artemis's horse with her. She grinned. "Ava, Everett, and Jack go back to Camelot and inform Ajax of everything you know. Amice and I will go into the Perilous Lands."
"Wouldn't it make sense if Amice and Jack went together to Camelot?" Ava asked.
"No, I need someone with strong magic. I trust Amice to be my magic. Trust me." They nodded before riding fast toward separate directions.
They rode fast toward the Perilous Lands. It wasn't too far from the Gorion Mountains. They arrived at the bridge that lead to the Perilous Lands.
"Ah, so the others arrive," the dwarf guarding the bridge said.
"Who are you?" Amice asked looking at the dwarf.
"The keeper of the bridge. So, we finally have Loyalty and Love." Amice and Artemis looked at each other. Artemis shrugged.
"Did a prince come through here?"
"Courage, Strength, and Magic are waiting for you to complete this quest."
"Magic is Merlin," Artemis reasoned. "Who's strength?" The keeper laughed disappeared. "Come on," Artemis said taking the lead.
"Should we use magic to get there?"
"I don't think that would be wise," Artemis admitted. Amice nodded. Together, they went into the Perilous Lands.
"There it is," Artemis said seeing a castle in the distance. The practically ran the rest of the way. The closer Artemis got to Arthur, the more the coin burned. "This way!" Artemis dragged Amice. They appeared in a room. Merlin sent off one wyvern using his dragon lord skills. Amice took down the other with her own magic. Merlin stared at them dumbfounded for a moment. "Merlin! Bracelet!" Artemis yelled seeing an Eye of the Phoenix on Arthur's wrist. He rushed to Arthur throwing off the bracelet to them. "Amice," Artemis said holding it out to her. Amice took the bracelet and shoved it in her pocket. Arthur slowly opened his eyes. He sat up slightly.
"What the hell are you doing here!" Arthur asked seeing Merlin. Amice and Artemis laughed.
"Classy, that one," Amice said. They laughed. He looked at them.
"Artemis! And who the hell are you!"
"Why can't you just ever say thanks?" Merlin asked interrupting him.
"Thanks!" Arthur yelled. "What for? Completely ruining the quest!"
"Well, it's a good thing I was here, or you'd be wyvern food by now!"
"How many times do I have to get it into your thick skull! I am supposed to be doing this alone!"
"Well, someone's moody," Artemis said. She sighed and shook her head. "Just be grateful, Arthur. Things like this shouldn't be done alone anyway."
"And you! You of all people," he said. She rolled her eyes. A screech interrupted him. A wyvern was about to kill them until someone stuck a sword through it.
"Gwaine!" Artemis said happily seeing the man.
"Afternoon, my lady," he said with his usual flirting grin. "Fancy seeing you here."
"Har har," Artemis said sarcastically.
"Great," Arthur said sarcastically, "this just gets better and better. Are Gwen and Morgana here too? What about Rhian and Ava? Or perhaps you brought the entire army? Are we going to have a surprise party!"
"Well, if you want," Artemis said. "It'll be a rather shabby party in a place like this." Amice snickered.
"More wyvern are on the way. We need to get out of here," Gwaine said.
"I'm not leaving without the trident," Arthur said getting up and walking away. "What was the whole point of this quest?"
"Do you want us to help you, or do you want to do this alone?" Merlin questioned.
"Merlin!" Arthur demanded from the hall.
"Do you know where the trident is?" Merlin asked as they climbed the stairs.
"If I knew where it was, there wouldn't be a problem would there?" Arthur asked.
"Moody, this one," Amice said.
"Oh, he's always like this when he's in knight mode," Artemis said.
"I heard that," Arthur told her.
"It's the truth, Arthur," she said.
"How did you even find me?" Arthur asked.
"The power of love," Artemis joked dramatically. Amice snickered.
"Any clues you can give us?" Merlin asked.
"This is a quest not a treasure hunt," Arthur told him.
"Aren't they the same thing?" Amice asked.
"In this case, yes."
"You're right," Merlin said stopping to look at them, "It is sort of-"
"Merlin!" Arthur called. They continued. Artemis stopped stopping Amice. Merlin noticed and stopped with her.
"It's in there," Artemis told him. They looked in together.
"Look at this," Merlin called. "It looks like a throne room."
"If the trident's going to be anywhere…," Arthur said. Amice, Artemis, and Merlin went first. Suddenly, Merlin triggered a trap, and the door slammed shut.
"Way to go," Amice said. Artemis slowly moved to the throne. "Artemis?" She didn't listen. She gasped in surprise. An old decrepit old king sat in the throne. The others rushed to her. He looked to them and saw the king.
"So, you are still alive," Merlin breathed.
"For now," he replied. A crack was heard from the door.
"That would be-" Merlin muttered.
"-you're friends," the king replied. "Courage and strength. I know. Without their help, you would not be here."
"What is it that you want?" Merlin asked.
"I want an end to my suffering."
"You want to die," Merlin said.
"I have been waiting all these years for a new time, the time of the Once and Future King."
"I've heard these words before," Merlin muttered.
"As have I," Artemis said. "I have read them." Amice stared at her.
"And you will hear them again for that time is dawning, and my time can finally come to an end. This is why you were brought here. This is not Arthur's quest but the three of yours. It is not coincidence that the woman, Amice, appears suddenly. She is part of this as much as Love and Magic. Arthur thinks the prize is the trident," he said dropping the trident to the ground like it was nothing. "But the real prize is something far greater." He held out a strange hourglass filled with water. "Water from the Lake of Avalon. I've kept it safe these years waiting for the right person to claim it… and that is you, Emyrs. You are the one chosen."
"What are you talking about?"
"Albion's time of need is near, and in that dark hour, you must be strong. For you in time will save her. Your powers are great, but you'll need help, and that is what I am giving you." Merlin stepped forward and took it. "When all seems lost this will show you the way."
"Thank you." He looked at the two women.
"To you, Loyalty, I have shown proof that something soon will be worth fighting for. You will find your loyalty soon." She nodded. "And you Love, I wish to give you something far greater." A necklace fell from his hand. "Wear it always. When you're visions come to pass, you will be of no need of it." Artemis took it from him and put it around her neck.
"What is it?"
"That I cannot tell you." Artemis nodded. She understood that somethings should not be known until the proper time, and clearly now was not the proper time.
"Thank you."
"I have given you each a gift; now you must give one in return."
"But we have nothing to give," Merlin said. The man stood.
"I think you do." Amice took the phoenix eye from her pocket.
"If we give you this, you will die," Merlin said. He nodded. Slowly with the king's encouraging, Merlin took the bracelet from Amice. He knelt down and put it on the king. Wind came up and suddenly the king to nothing but dust. His body was completely gone.
"Thank you," a voice said. Gwaine and Arthur rushed in.
"Merlin?" Arthur questioned. He was still kneeling of the floor confusing Arthur. Merlin stood. Arthur clapped him on the shoulder as he went to collect the trident. Gwaine and him man hugged. Artemis rolled her eyes. Amice laughed.
"Ha! Look what I found!" he said holding up the trident.
"Good. Can we go now?" Artemis asked.
"Alright," Arthur said leading the way.
"This is the border," Gwaine said stopping. "By Uther's degree, I can go no further."
"I'm sorry, Gwaine," Arthur said. "There's nothing I can do to change that."
"Maybe one day," Merlin said.
"Yeah, when Camelot gets itself a half decent king!" Gwaine said with a smile.
"Careful," Arthur said. "He is my father."
"Well, you can't have everything, eh?"
"Well, where will you head this time?" Merlin asked. He licked his finger and checked the wind.
"I think I'll head south."
"You can't keep living like that," Artemis told him.
"Yeah, but it's fun trying." Arthur started forward continuing toward Camelot.
"Thank, Gwaine," Merlin said.
"Indeed," Artemis said. He nodded to them.
"I'll remember this Gwaine," Arthur said. He nodded.
"Got to say that was a good quest. Did you meet that man on the bridge? And then those wyverns were really scary. And then the door to the throne! That was so close!"
"You do talk some nonsense sometimes Merlin. I mean what on earth would you even know about it? It's not like you were there."
"Of course I was."
"You were not there. You have not seen me in days. You went on a little trip to… pick herbs or whatever it is you do in your spare time."
"Ah, of course. If your father were to find out you weren't alone-"
"Yes, Merlin. So just keep your mouth shut."
"Of course sire. I would do anything you say for a price."
"What price?"
"A day off."
"I think you're had a little too much of that herb you've been picking."
"And what have I been doing?" Artemis asked.
"You… went to pick up," he said pointing at Amice, "this new friend."
"Oh, right. This is Amice. She's an old friend. Long story."
"Hi," she said with a grin. Artemis laughed. Amice did with her. Amice was an ally now. Artemis was sure of this. She trusted Amice. She just hoped she would not live to regret that. Now, in the time of chaos and war, it was nearly impossible to tell who was worth trusting.