Chapter 4

The army headed north. It took them two weeks to reach the border. Ralph rode in the back of the cart, sitting up and looking over the cart's side slats. Simon rode up front, driving the horses. They would camp each night, and Simon would make a meal for them.

Ralph heard soldiers laughing and singing around a campfire, and he went and sat with them. One of the soldiers called, "Merlin, sing one of your unusual songs for us. We have not heard you sing for a long time."

Ralph thought, 'What would they like that would make sense to them?'

Pam suggested, 'Fields of Gold by Sting. I will start the music.'

Ralph asked Pam, 'Should you play the music? Will that not scare them?'

Pam said, 'No, they know you have the magic to make music out of the air.'

Merlin/Ralph stood and sang the song as Pam played the music from the emblem on his chest. The soldiers listened in rapture and thought of their wives and lovers as the music was played. Ralph sang two other songs and then told the soldiers he was tired and went back to his tent and fell asleep.

The next day, the army reached the border. The camp was set up, and guard duty was assigned. The King called a war strategy meeting, and Merlin was invited. The King and his commanders stood around a table with a large drawing of the area. Strategies were discussed, but nothing could be finalized until they were sure where the enemy's encampments and numbers were determined.

King Arthur asked Merlin, "Can you do an enchantment and determine the enemy numbers and locations?"

Ralph answered, being careful what he was saying and making up magical-sounding terms, with no firm commitment, "Yes, sire, if the ley lines are positively placed, the red winds are in the right direction, and my strength holds out, I should be able to acquire that information. These enchantments are very stressful on the body, and I find them harder to perform at my age. I will do my best to acquire the information for Your Majesty."

The King replied, "That is all we can ask of you. Let me know if you get any information."

Ralph laboriously walked back to his tent and told Simon what the King requested.

Simon said, "He has often asked Merlin for this type of information."

Ralph asked, "How has Merlin acquired this information in the past?"

Simon replied, "He turns invisible and flies to the enemy encampment, walks around, and listens to the talk around the camps. Then he comes back and tells the King."

Ralph nodded and said, 'That makes sense. I will do that at twilight tonight."

At twilight, Ralph slowly walked into the forest, removed his robes, exposed the red super suit, went invisible, and flew over the border searching for the enemy encampment. He found it about two miles to the north next to the river. As he flew over the camp, he asked Pam to take a count of all personnel, armaments, and supplies. Still invisible, he landed in the camp and slowly walked around, listening to the talk among the soldiers and knights. They planned on moving through the night toward Arthur's army, coming up on it from three sides.

After hearing that the attack was planned for later tonight, he quickly returned to Arthur's encampment. He thought about attacking the enemy camp but decided not to deprive the King of his excitement; he was already tired. Upon his return, he told Simon what he had heard and had him hurry to King Arthur's tent and relay the information. The King immediately called his commanders, and they had a quick war council devising their strategies.

When Simon returned to Merlin's tent, he set up the triage center for the anticipated injuries.

Ralph was exhausted and fell asleep sitting in a chair, almost falling over. Simon told him to go to bed and assured him he would wake him when the battle started. Ralph felt bad leaving all the work for Simon, but Merlin's stamina was nil. Ralph fell asleep the minute his head hit the pillow.

The battle started in the wee hours of the morning. Ralph awoke to the sound of men yelling and the clang of swords hitting each other. Merlin/Ralph exited the tent and saw the battle everywhere. Simon was nowhere to be seen.

Using telekinesis, Ralph moved toward the battle and knocked several enemy soldiers over, stopping them from placing fatal blows on Arthur's knights. He was hit from behind and fell to his knees. Pam stood him up, and he continued assisting as best he could. He was breathing in difficult gasps but kept participating in the battle. He saw Arthur surrounded by several enemy knights and was able to push a few away from the King, allowing him to escape the onslaught.

An enemy knight on a giant war horse hit Merlin/Ralph; he dropped to the ground, trying to catch his breath. Simon showed up out of nowhere and helped him up. Simon had a cut on his cheek that was bleeding down his face. He lifted Merlin/Ralph to his shoulder, carried him to the triage tent, and laid him on a mat.

Ralph knew Merlin was dying; he could feel the pain in his chest. He asked Pam, 'Is there anything you can do for Merlin to keep him alive?'

Pam answered, 'No, his heart and vascular system are too deteriorated.'

Ralph looked at Simon and said softly, "Simon, Merlin is dying, and there is nothing Pam can do to help him."

Simon sadly replied, "I know; he had suspected this for a while. He was going to give me a suit, but I think he waited too long."

Ralph said, "You are right. There is not enough energy in his body to perform this act. I am sorry."

Simon asked, "But, Ralph, what will happen to you when his body dies?"

Ralph said, "I don't know; I hope to return to my body in my time. If not, then it is my time to go. I am not afraid to die; I have been down the tunnel before and almost entered the light. I know it is beautiful and nothing to be afraid of."

For Ralph, everything went dark, and then he was in a brightly lit room, gasping for breath. He didn't know where he was. His eyes didn't want to focus, and his confused mind tried to understand what had happened. Finally, he caught his breath, and his eyes came into focus. He turned his head and saw M standing next to the bed he was in. He had returned to his body in the MIB timeline.