The Prophecy is No More
Chapter 2
Two months ago, Merlin was sent to a Druid camp. Two months ago, he was sent to a place he's never been. Two months ago, he has been meeting new people. Two months ago, he started practicing magic. Two months ago, he was told of him being a powerful warlock named Emrys, who was destined to lead the Druids.
Merlin had to admit, he enjoyed being a Druid, except for the constant fear of their camp being revealed. But, to be honest, it has got to be the best month of his life. He learned to control his magic. He learned new spells, already finishing a quarter of the beginners spell book.
And to top it off, he was living with people like him, all sorcerers, except for a rare few. Nobody looked down upon him for practicing magic in public, which otherwise would get his head chopped off. It was like a breath of fresh air. No more of the suffocating need to constantly hide his magic in front of people
Eldric (the chief of this Druid camp and Merlin's magic teacher) told him that he was very good at magic, already doing spells in his first tries that would normally take days or even weeks to master. Guess being the most powerful sorcerer has its perks.
In addition to learning magic, Merlin's been taught the ways of the Old Religion and its history along with the ways of the Druids or anything that's magical. Eldric says that he will be an expert by the end of the year, especially since he likes to spend his time in the library. Well . . . as close to a library as you can get in an encampment that's meant to be taken down easily so that they could flee anytime.
The library was technically another tent (among the many identical ones) that consisted of a rickety old table and chairs stacked with books of all sorts. Some books were even scattered on the floor. What can you expect? There's no need for neatness if you have to run at any moment.
Then there was the problem with people constantly calling him Emrys. He's been telling them to just call him Merlin, but no matter what (those stubborn Druids) they just kept on calling him Emrys. And to add to that, everybody seems to know him. Whenever he passes by them they'd stop whatever they were doing to either stare at him or bow. He didn't like the attention, and he didn't think he'd ever get used to it
All of the things he's been learning, came down to one thing and one thing only; his destiny to be the leader of the magical society (especially the Druids). He's been told of his role to protect and lead no matter what. Be the most powerful warlock, use your magic for good. That's what he's been taught
But enough with what Merlin did in the last two months. Right now, at this very moment, he was trying (and failing) to use a healing spell on a rather long cut. He smiled sheepishly at the dark haired boy, (what's his name? Declan? He looks the same age as me) embarrassed that he couldn't heal a simple cut
"Þurhhæle dolgbenn" Merlin cast the spell again, but failed for the tenth time that day. He withheld a frustrated sigh and tried to look like the all-powerful warlock he was supposed to be.
Declan laughed, at least tried not to, but it came anyway. Merlin tried not to glare, but couldn't help it. Seeing the glare, Declan started laughing full on, not being able to keep it in anymore.
Five more minutes flew by with Declan still trying to stifle his laughter. He clutched his stomach with his hand and flicked away a stray tear from his eyes. All the while, Merlin's glare intensified. He could almost feel Eldric looking at them with an amused smile. He crossed his arms and harrumphed.
Finally the laughter died down, with Declan just looking at him with a smile. "I'm sorry about that, Emrys. But I thought that being the all-powerful warlock will make things easier."
"It does! It's just this stupid healing spell!" Merlin whined
"Oh, all right. Just blame it on the spell." Declan said with a roll of his eyes. If Merlin looked behind him, he'd notice the disapproving look Eldric was giving Declan. Declan dropped his teasing smile, remembering who he was talking to. "I'm sorry, Emrys. I shouldn't have spoken to you with such disrespect. I apologize for la-"
Merlin held up a hand before Declan could continue. He grinned, glad that at least someone in this encampment could talk to him normally. "There's no need for that. I'm just glad that you can talk to me like I'm a normal person."
"Of course," Declan said with a smile.
Eldric put a hand on Merlin's shoulder to get his attention. Merlin looked up, puzzled as to why he did that.
"Shall I heal him instead?" Eldric asked.
Merlin's face flushed red with embarrassment and remembered exactly why they were here in the first place. He nodded, knowing that he won't be able to heal Declan
"Þurhhæle dolgbenn" Eldric's eyes flashed gold. Merlin watched in awe as the cut slowly closed itself and in seconds, there was no trace of it left.
"Emrys, your lesson for today is over. Let's leave the young man to rest, shall we?" Merlin nodded and allowed Eldric to guide him out the tent. But before he went, he was stopped by a quick goodbye from Declan.
"Goodbye, Emrys"
"Goodbye, Declan," Merlin said and stopped mid-way, turning his head to look at the young man. Call me Merlin. He telepathically called out to Declan.
]_[ ]_[ ]_[
Four months later . . .
Merlin's eyes flashed gold making a small tree branch fall. Declan looked up and he only had a few seconds to dodge the attack. He swerved out of the way and quickly muttered a spell, making a fireball appear in his hands. He launched it at Merlin, who caught it in his hands and threw it back at Declan. Declan put up a shield, but the sheer force of the fireball threw him back on the ground.
Merlin grinned, "I win again, Declan!" He then sauntered over to his friend and offered a hand. Declan grudgingly took it and he stood up with the help of Merlin's hand.
Declan brushed off some of the dirt that clung to his clothes, never wavering in his glare. "I'm going to win next time, you'll see."
Merlin's smile grew and he found himself smiling ear to ear. "Sure."
Declan had trouble containing the smile that threatened to show itself, but finally he let it slip. It was hard not to smile when Merlin was giving him that look, he had that effect on people.
Ever since that faithful day during another one of Merlin's lesson, Declan became a friend of sorts. He was the only Druid who talked to him like he was a normal person, not Emrys and definitely not the all-powerful warlock. Merlin missed being normal and Declan was the only one that gave him that feeling of normal-ness. Declan was the only one in the encampment that called him Merlin, the other Druids just seem to forget that Emrys is not really his given name. Emrys-as Merlin liked to call- was his magical name. But Eldric insisted on calling Emrys his prophetic name.
Before he could think of a smart comeback, a voice in his head called out to the two boys
Emrys, Declan
Merlin furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Declan to find that he looked puzzled as well.
Emrys, Declan
"I think it's Eldric." Declan said, to which he received a distracted nod from Merlin.
Merlin reached out to the voice and indeed it was Eldric. What's wrong, Eldric? He called out
Emrys, we are being attacked by Camelot's knights. You must go to the cave where we are to regroup.
Dread filled Merlin's heart at what he just heard. Camelot's knights? What are they doing here? How did they find us?
We will talk later, but you must go to the cave for your own safety.
No, Merlin said firmly. And how could he? How could he go to the cave while countless people were being mur-don't even think about it-captured. He couldn't just sit tight while many of them ran for their lives. And what did Eldric say again? You are Emrys, the most powerful warlock to ever live. You are prophesied to be our leader and our protector. If Merlin was going to be their leader and their protector, he wasn't just going to leave them to be hunted down by the knights.
Emrys, please. You must go.
No, I have to get everyone to safety.
Merlin looked at Declan (who was silently listening to their mind argument) with a determined expression, Merlin was about to open his mouth to tell him to go to the cave but was stopped.
"Merlin, I'm not about to leave my people to die. I'm coming with you."
Merlin nodded, "Then what are we waiting for?" Merlin slipped on his cloak and headed for the encampment with Declan in tow. Merlin stopped when suddenly an arrow whizzed by his face.
]_[ ]_[ ]_[
Arthur saw two hooded figures walking into the encampment. He took out his crossbow and shot at them. Disappointed that he didn't get them, he simply guided his horse to Leon, who's dragging along two young druids.
Arthur had to admit, he didn't like attacking druid camps. It just feels wrong to attack defenseless people. But then again, they are sorcerers. And sorcerers are evil. They wouldn't hesitate to attack the innocents of Camelot. And it was necessary to get rid of them before they do can more harm.
That is why Arthur was here, at a Druid camp, by his father's command. This is his second time attacking them, once he did last year (he was 18 at the moment) near the Darkling Woods. He couldn't fathom why those sorcerers would stay so close to Camelot. Anyways, that's not the point.
A couple days ago, a simple villager came to have an audience with the king. He claimed to have seen a couple druids pass by their village for supplies. He suspected that their camp would be nearby and asked the king to check. Well he told the king that, right after giving the usual sorcerers-are-bad speech (which was really a formality to get the king's favor).
So now, here he was, after a day and a half of searching. Attacking the sorcerers that threatened their peaceful lives.
Arthur mounted off his horse to help Sir Leon guide the two young sorcerers to the cage. They've caught a few druids, but some were lying lifeless on the ground from their attacks. Leon shoved them in and Arthur could hear the two sorcerers whimper in fear. Good. They should fear us. They've committed a crime by learning the dark art.
When he turned around around, he noticed that some of his knights and soldiers were lying limply on the ground. Arthur couldn't tell if they were unconscious or dead, hopefully not the latter. This didn't happen before, sure a lot of knights get hurt in these excursions, but never that many.
Arthur narrowed his eyes at the small battlefield, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
]_[ ]_[ ]_[
Merlin cast a spell over a knight's sword to heat it up. The knight gave out a cry and dropped his sword, making room for the mother and child to run.
Thank You. He heard the mother's voice in his mind. Merlin gave a quick smile to her and hardened his expression at the knight who was still cursing his burned hand. Merlin thrust out his hands, his eyes flashing gold. The knight was thrown back against a tree, unconscious.
Merlin allowed a quick smile at his victory and looked back to make sure Declan was doing all right. Merlin was happy to have disarmed a lot of the soldiers in small ways for the druids to escape. But there was still one problem. The cage.
The cage was where a lot of them were held captive, surrounded by many guards and by someone who he could only assume was the prince. He put his hood closer to hide his face and made his way to the prince. Quickly channeled a thought to Declan to make sure that everyone was safely in the cave. He cursed under his breath when the prince noticed him and commanded everyone around the cage to be on high alert.
]_[ ]_[ ]_[
Arthur noticed a hooded man throw a knight against the tree without touching him and suspected that he was the same person who disarmed most of his soldiers. The man made his way to them, obviously trying to be sneaky but failing miserably. Arthur commanded the knights to get ready for the attack that was sure to come.
To his surprise the mysterious hooded figure only spoke. "Let them go and this can end peacefully."
Yeah right! As if Arthur was going to listen to some sorcerer about peace. "And why would I listen to you? You are outnumbered, we could take you down with just one blow."
"I can take you down with less."
Is he bluffing? The sorcerer held out his hands as if to cast a spell over them. Probably not. Must be a very powerful sorcerer if he thinks he can take them all down. But there's still a chance that the sorcerer was bluffing to scare them off, which was definitely not working on him-ish.
The sorcerer seemed to notice his discomfort. "Aw, are you scared? Do need daddy's men to protect you?"
Arthur glared at the evil sorcerer. How dare he mock him in such a manner! "Do you know who you're talking to?"
"As a matter of fact, I do."
"Well, then, you should know to not talk to me with such disrespect." Chills went down his spine when he caught a small smile-no, smirk-from the sorcerer.
"Don't be such a prat. I was just stating the facts."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Don't be such a prat, your highness." The sorcerer did a mock bow.
His anger was getting the best of him and Arthur found himself seething in his spot. Arthur barked out an order to attack the sorcerer. When all of a sudden, all his knights were throw back by an invisible force. He remained there as the only one standing, staring at the sorcerer with horror. He tried to school his features into something he hoped looked threatening.
"If you'll excuse me, I have to free them from the cage."
Arthur's glare hardened, he was never going to let his get to the cage. He held his sword his in hands and charged, shouting out a battle cry. All of a sudden, he felt his body going weightless and something seemed to hit his head, then everything went black.
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A/N: Ta-Daaaa! New chapter! What do you guys think? Good? Bad? Ok? Not what you expected? Or maybe you did. I don't know. And well, it ended in a cliffhanger. But hopefully you can guess what happens. Yes? No? Maybe? I think I'll just tell you. So, basically, Merlin frees the druids they go to the cave I mentioned and regroup. And Arthur is just unconscious. Don't worry, not dead. I won't let him die before the climax of the story, who do you think I am? And then . . . um . . . he'll go back to Camelot. I'm pretty sure you can guess what happens after that.
One more thing, since I don't have a Beta (as if I ever did), I will definitely make mistakes and it would be nice if you could could point them out to me. Thank You!
Wait! Don't go yet! I would like to thank all who reviewed chapter 1. I'm glad you guys liked it. And I would like to reply to the guest reviews here.
Guest: Thank You! I'm glad you think it's interesting! Hopefully this chapter lives up to you expectation.
catherine10: That sounds like a really good idea, but unfortunately I have some other things planned for this story. I agree with you, I think it would be nice for them to meet like that. Maybe after this story, I could write a story like that.
So, bye-bye! Until next time! Please review and tell me what you think of it so far.