"What exactly happened, Arthur?" Amaya asked as she rode beside the king who was frowning in thought."
"He was a knight in training, full of promise and skill, especially with a bow. He could almost match Tristan." Arthur replied with a deep sigh. "But when I knighted him, his true colours began to show. He slaughtered an entire village up north and threatened to break our ties with the Woads until we subdued him. Before he could be executed for his crimes, he somehow escaped prison and today was the first I have seen of him in nearly a year." Arthur explained, looking to her. "He is well hidden, wherever he is."
"How fortunate for him." She muttered. "If father had not raised me to have honour, I would have cut his foul tongue from his mouth then stuffed it down his throat for him to choke." He chuckled at her softly, a small smile touching his forlorn features. "Do not worry so much, Arthur. Even if you do not have the answer, I shall not let him kill you. After all." She gave a wicked grin. "He said to not bring knights with you." Arthur laughed aloud, brightening as he saw the perfect loophole in Gromer's pact.
"What would I do without you, you rascal?" Arthur questioned. "It seems God has been good to bless us with your existence in our lives." She snorted.
"It doesn't take much intelligence to think like I do. I am blunt and to the point." She replied simply then felt Arluin tug on his reins, snorting whilst turning his head to the trees. Amaya looked up and saw Tristan canter by, scouting the road ahead and with a pang her eyes followed him briefly before she looked away. The confrontation left her feeling no better but somehow, she did not feel any worse. She supposed that she would simply just have to get used to it.
The moment they returned Lucan ran up to Amaya and Dagonet, pausing and looking between the two, wondering who to greet first so they both swept forwards and hugged him, Dagonet throwing the boy up into the air and Amaya caught him, tickling his waist before she kissed his cheek, making him blush. "Wow! You caught so much!" Lucan stared then leaped out of Amaya's arms. "I'll have to help Vanora, she'll want all those birds plucked soon!" Then he was off again, racing towards the kitchens with Dagonet chuckling after him.
"He is growing up too fast." Dagonet mused softly and Amaya sighed.
"He'll always be your son, Dag, so don't worry." She touched his arm as she led Arluin around and to a field after she had untacked him, letting him get some fresh air and join the other geldings so that he spent good time with other horses. In four days the arena would have been turned into a jousting arena which would kick start the events of the three day tournament.
It would be the perfect opportunity to ask more women what they desired above anything else though Amaya was not certain it was the right tactic. What they needed to know was what all women desired, not the one woman in particular.
"Maya! Why the pensive face? You looked to have a good hunt!" Instantly Amaya smiled at Maia's bright and bubbly tone, the fair lady gracefully descending the steps with her pink skirts bunched up in her fingers as she then stopped to smile before Amaya.
"Mai, what do women desire above all other things?" Amaya asked and the younger woman blinked in confusion.
"I'm sorry?" Amaya then explained everything that had happened and Maia gasped once she had finished, clapping her hand to her mouth then looked to Arthur who was speaking intently to Guinevere. "Oh no! Well, oh um…I suppose…oh I don't know. Beauty? Most women desire to be beautiful. Or maybe love?" Amaya blinked slightly to hide her flinch. "There are just so many possibilities! Oh what are we to do?"
"I will need your help, Mai." Amaya murmured calmly and the warm tone soothed Maia greatly. "Ask any woman you meet the same question, from courtier to maid to the villagers on the street. We shall find the right answer, it has to be something inconspicuous that we will not know until we have found it."
"Maya." Percival's voice called and Amaya turned, giving him a smile of greeting.
"Percival, how did your tutoring go? Were your class respectful?" He groaned in answer, rubbing his face wearily with his hand.
"Children are not my strong point." He answered and Maia giggled.
"No, they are a little bit of a handful." She agreed. "If you change the tuition to be more like a game for them, they tend to be more responsive. It worked for Galahad, it should work for you." He blinked at her then bowed his head gratefully.
"Thank you, Lady Maia." She smiled.
"Glad to help. If you would excuse me, there is a knight I have a token for." She shot Amaya a bright smile before running to Galahad who beamed when he saw her, lifting her up into his arms and spinning as she laughed, reaching down to kiss him. Amaya smiled, happy for them.
"She grows brighter and brighter every day." She murmured thoughtfully, watching them a moment before looking back to Percival, his blond hair turning golden in the sun. "Was there something you needed me for?" He nodded his head.
"A message came for you. It is from the Woad leader Merlin. He wishes to speak with you." Amaya blinked then frowned. Instantly Percival blushed. "I did not intend to pry, or at least I did but only because I knew you could not read. I thought it would be easier to simply tell you the message."
"No, it's not that. Did he say why he wanted to meet me? Are you sure he did not say Arthur?"
"Your name was written. He wants to meet with you now. As soon as you can get to the woods." Amaya groaned. All she wanted to do was rest. "He said it was urgent." Nodding her head Amaya turned and was about to walk back to the stables when Galahad led his horse to her.
"Here, take Carlo. I need to stay here to teach my little devils but I'm sure Gawain, Bors and Dagonet will go with you."
"Merlin also said he wanted you to go alone." Galahad's head whipped around to face Percival who drew the letter from his belt and held it out to Galahad who snatched it and read it through several times.
"Alone?"
"Come now little wolf, it's not like I haven't done so before. I have my bow and a quiver, I shall be perfectly safe and Carlo won't let anything happen to me. Will you boy?" The horse snorted and Amaya smiled. "See?"
"But still, I don't trust those Woads." He said slowly and this time, Amaya smacked him up the head.
"They came to your aid twice in battle, may I remind you!" She snapped, grabbing the saddle and hoisting herself up then adjusted the stirrups and girth, taking up Carlo's reins. "You should be more trusting towards your allies, little wolf." He shrugged.
"I don't trust anyone with my sister. Are you sure you do not mind going alone? I'm sure Tristan would follow, you won't even see him and neither would the Woads." Tristan looked up at the sound of his name being spoken.
"What's this?" He asked nonchalantly, refraining from looking at Amaya.
"Merlin has asked Maya to meet him in the woods. Alone." Galahad answered with half a whine to his tone. Tristan looked away and shrugged.
"So?"
"So? So? So anything could happen! There are wolves and bandits out there!" Tristan did not answer for a moment before sighing and turning to face them.
"Do you want me to go?"
"Yes!" Galahad answered.
"No." Amaya snapped, shooting her brother a look. "I can take care of myself." With a firm tap of her heels Carlo cantered forwards, his pale mane streaking behind him as Amaya sped through onto the streets, leaving the others behind her. The moment she was gone, Galahad turned to Tristan but the scout growled.
"You heard her, pup."
"Damn you Tristan!" Galahad scowled, striding over. "I don't care what's happened between you and my sister, you just better be grateful that I don't flay your skin right now after what you put her through. There's something wrong, however. When I saw her by that buck she had shot, something had terrified her which means, something dangerous is in the woods. Now you get back onto that mule of yours and follow her!" Tristan glared at the pup, his fingers itching to choke him so instead he shoved the boy away and swung up onto his horse.
"Fine." He spat like a furious cat then cantered after Amaya, following her into the forest but kept a good distance behind her. Amaya was not sure if Tristan would follow or not, knowing Galahad he would probably force the scout to chase after her so she put as much distance between herself and the city as she could, riding into the trees before waiting.
She rode up the path but when she turned the corner, Amaya came face to face with the mystical man who touched his chest and bowed his head to her, so she returned the gesture. "The scout will not be far behind me." She warned him. "They worry for my safe keeping."
"Understandable." He answered in his soft, brittle voice. "Come, my warriors shall cover our tracks." He led her into the trees and Amaya turned Carlo to follow, watching the warlock closely. He led her further into the trees until the path was long gone from sight and they sat before a pool of water which Amaya did not know was there.
"Come, sit." He invited so Amaya tied Carlo up, loosened his girth then joined Merlin beside the water. "I know of the wraith. I felt its presence." Amaya shuddered, the fear returning to her swiftly before she shoved it aside. "But it did not kill you like it was meant to."
"No. It was harmed by the light that I shone off my blade by chance. Tristan and I destroyed it that way." Merlin nodded.
"She was a fool to try something in the light, her powers are weakened by the sun." Merlin muttered under his breath before sighing. "I will tell you of who sent that wraith and why. Are you ready to hear?" Amaya nodded her head, placing her hands in her lap. "It was Morgana who sent it to kill the scout, Sir Tristan, in payment for the lover you took from her. Lazarus." Amaya did not react and Merlin was surprised how not even a twitch or a blink touched her features.
"Tristan is not my lover." Amaya spoke finally. "So why would she choose to try and kill him?"
"Because you care for him. Love him even, though you dare no longer admit it." How much did this ancient prune know? He chuckled. "Morgana is not the only one with magic, though hers is as black and twisted as her soul. She is Arthur's half-sister by the father, Uther. Her mother was an Irish noble woman, the wife of an Irish rebel that Uther sieged at his castle. He took her as the spoils of war and left her with child. Morgana." Amaya narrowed her eyes.
"I knew there was something off about her." She growled sharply as Merlin then continued.
"Her mother, who is now dead, was driven mad with rage. She sacrificed her blood for power and with it, came great terror. She taught her daughter all that she knew of dark magic and Morgana's magic now surpasses that of her mother. Her lust for blood, however, has not diminished. Morgana was raised with a hatred for her father and his family. She will take the kingdom, take it and burn it before Arthur's eyes before killing him."
"No, I shall not let that happen." Amaya decided firmly, clenching her fists tightly. "I shall kill her before I allow such a thing to pass."
"I admire your courage but you will be going up against magic with only steel. You have no chance of defeating her." Merlin said but Amaya was not ready to lose hope.
"You could fight her. You have magic, do you not?" He chuckled.
"Old magic, I no longer have the strength within me to fight. Magic comes at a great price when for the light, it requires a sacrifice and more often than not, it is the wielder's strength." He touched a finger into the pool then pressed the tip of the dampened skin to her brow, making Amaya blink in confusion but she did not pull away. "Watching you fight and lead such a small army against hundreds, I saw a strength greater than any which I have ever seen before. Greater still than Arthur. This is why I have chosen you to now take over my legacy."
"Your legacy? What do you mean?" Amaya frowned.
"To my people, I am Merlin. To other warlocks, druids, witches, sorceresses and priestesses, I am Emrys. Now that I am old, it is time that I give my powers to someone who can use them for the good and I see no better successor than you." He paused, chuckling. "Initially, I would have chosen either Guinevere or Arthur but you, you surpass them in all ways."
"I am just a maid." Merlin shook his head.
"Not anymore. Trust me, Amaya, this is the only way that you will be able to defeat Morgana. To fight the darkness, there must also be light and your light shines from you even now as a beacon. I know that you will surpass her also. It is time for me to move on, but Emrys must remain." Amaya stared at the Woad, completely in shock.
"You must be mistaken. I cannot accept such a role or even such an honour. I am nobody, I can't…"
"Do not speak with the voice of others." He cut across her. "In time, you will only hear their whispers and not the sound of your own thoughts. Step away from how others see you, allow yourself to become whom you wish to be. Now," he reached forwards and took Amaya's hands gently in his own. "Do you wish to defeat Morgana?" And wipe that smug little smirk she always wore off her face? Of course Amaya did.
"Yes." She answered boldly and Merlin smiled.
"Then close your eyes and let go of all feeling." Amaya did as he ordered, letting her mind float away from her and without warning, she felt a tingling run up her fingers and arms. The heat spread up to her chest and Amaya gasped as it struck her heart like a lightning bolt, setting it into a speed she did not think possible, causing a bright whiteness to flash before her eyes as power suddenly surged through her body.
It felt irresistible but at the same time, Amaya wanted to shove it away. Too much power was dangerous. It could cause more harm than good, she did not want to hurt anyone but then all at once, the raw electricity faded away into a warm glow, the light spreading across Amaya's body as she sighed and shuddered, letting the peace wash over her.
When she opened her eyes, her skin was glowing like she were a lantern of white fire, the flames dancing across her skin before sinking deep into her, bringing her eternal warmth. Her heart felt lighter and the heaviness she had felt in her chest was chased away, leaving only peace and serenity as she looked into Merlin's eyes. He sighed.
"It now feels cold." He murmured and Amaya instantly pulled off her cloak and placed it around him, frowning in concern. A man of his age needed to be kept warm at all times for fear of him becoming ill. Merlin patted her cheek gently then asked her to help him stand. "Now I really know, how it feels to be old." He sighed, moving a lot slower than he had been before, reaching out for his staff which Amaya pressed into his hands, giving him support. "Light magic, cannot be used to harm the innocent, which are all those without magic." Merlin explained to her as he began to walk. "Unlike dark magic, you will sometimes find it hard to control so you must keep your temper."
"I shall try." She promised him softly though she could not think how she could ever be angry again, not with the peace that flooded through her right now. Her skin had stopped glowing and she was once again normal, though she felt entirely different. Stronger, less weary and she felt as if there was nothing on this earth that she could not do.
"There is nothing that I can teach you, you must evolve your magic on your own. The more you progress, the stronger it will become and the less demand there will be on your strength. Be careful, however. The common folk do not like things they cannot understand."
"You mean the court?" Merlin nodded his head as they reached Carlo so Amaya untied him then helped Merlin along once more, her other hand holding onto the reins as they returned to the path.
"Do not fear you powers, Amaya, they will protect you. Learn them, feel them, let them guide you down your path and if ever you should need to ask something, you know where to find us." Merlin stopped at the side of the road and Amaya only let go of him when another Woad warrior stepped forwards and helped support the old man's weight. As Amaya swung up, she pulled Carlo around to face them.
"There is one question I need to ask. Since you are wise and know many question, I wondered if you knew the answer to the riddle of what all women desire most of all." Amaya said, looking to Merlin who frowned.
"I cannot say. The heart of a woman is as intricate as a spider web. None are the same and each desires something different." He shook his head. "I cannot answer, I am sorry." Nodding her head Amaya gave a confident smile.
"I shall not fail." She declared proudly, lifting her chin. "I shall defeat Morgana." Merlin lifted a hand in blessing.
"Go with the goodwill of all those who look up to you. May you lead well and guide Arthur down the right path, even when his night seems darkest." Amaya bowed her head then looked to the road, wondering where Tristan was. "We shall send him back, do not fear." Nodding her head Amaya turned and rode home, wondering exactly what she was going to tell everyone.