Adventures of Merlin Chapter 3
Merlin dropped from the tall window, the sound of his soft thump dulling through the air. Spiked with the flash of orange from a brasier, he ducked into the blue gray of the stone walls. He made a climb onto a rooftop and padded, ducked over to stay out of sight.
Aithusa's white neck craned to watch Merlin in his latest mischief. But this time Merlin didn't make for leaving Avalon Gates; He had other intentions, and he made them as the princess finished meeting with her maidservant.
He waited until she was alone to appear. Then he slinked from behind a curtain through the open stained window.
She blinked as though sensing him and turned in her chair.
There was a bright glow, unnatural to be from just the fire. He saw an intricate bobbing lantern beside her, hovering by magic on a fine chain. "I could have you killed for that, Dragon Lord."
"—You won't. You said this was Avalon?" he blurted.
She nodded. "This is still the border of Camelot. Magic hides in the palace in the natural plane. But I have a feeling you're looking for the Isle of Avalon, or Avalon grove." She tipped her head. "Am I right?"
"Where the body of a king would be buried," explained Merlin.
Mer mouth made an "Oh," and she nodded. "You think king Arthur is on the Isle of magic?"
"Is he?" Merlin's voice was hard and panicked.
She held him in her gaze for a second. "I will call the steward and see."
"Gwendolen …Majesty. I need to –"
"Stop giving orders. I'll send you a note to your quarters when I know."
Merlin started forward. "You do know," said Merlin. "Is the 'Once and Future King,' the King of Camelot in the Isle of Avalon?"
"No magic can fix it, love." she closed her eyes patiently. "You're wasting your heart on this."
"I know about magic."
"Do you?" her eyes were wide.
Merlin paused. "I stopped many sorcerers from killing the king."
Her fingers stopped; they were in her hair. She turned fully. "So you're a proper threat?"
Merlin shrank. "No," he said.
She ran her hand through her hair and sighed deep. I must prove myself with a show of strength soon or I will be murdered. Magic may be on its last legs, but there's still in-fighting. You're distracting me and If I die, you'll lose the only place that accepts you."
He chewed his lip and stepped lightly from behind the curtain. He made note of the gold-washed details which clashed with the bleak blue outside. "You're not a cruel ruler," said Merlin. He smoothed her curtain through his fingers smoothly, taking in the feel of the delicate cloth. "You're not even much more than a girl," he mused quietly. "A king like Arthur has enough trouble making himself respected by shows of strength in battle. They must challenge a woman much more. So many men equate the strength of ruling as cruelty."
She leaned toward him with a cocked head. "The only won battle doesn't make it to the field," she said dismissively. "How do you know things like that?" said Gwendolen. "Leadership styles and politics?"
Merlin smirked. "I told you. I served under a king."
She beheld him with a suspicious eye. "At least you know how to pay attention."
Raul stirred from a corner of the room. "Are you going to drill for information on our enemies, or must I step in?"
Merlin jumped. He hadn't noticed a second passage.
"Shoo, Raul."
"Hell no."
Gwendolen sniggered, "Go get some food from you, Dragon Lord. You're being a nuisance, and I have paperwork."
Merlin didn't move.
She slumped back. "In a week, a little more if circumstance changes — my procession will visit the Great Isle. If the steward's answer isn't enough, and you truly must know, you could join it," she offered coyly.
Merlin cast a far-off look before returning her gaze. "Is this a trick?" he asked.
"It gets me everything I want, so why would it be? You must be part of this court to get there," she leaned forward, her eyes slits, and her voice cold and low.
"Oh," said Merlin. He stepped back and slowly bowed. His private defeat loomed around him in his mind. But he'd know soon.
She returned to her lofty demeanor and leaned back again. "
Aithusa shrieked at some frightened knight trying to feed him a mangled deer's leg.
Merlin left, approached the knight, grabbed the middle, and slung it toward the dragon.
Aithusa sniffed it and shrieked again.
Merlin could have ordered the dragon to eat it. But he frowned. There was a Druid there. Not one he recognized, but it was only a matter of luck and time.
They would know him as Emrys, and every chance he had would fall apart.
He paraded into their kitchen and took a skinned lamb from its butchered position.
The cook was a gangly man his age, with blond curls. He saw Merlin taking it and froze while drying his hands. Merlin took it anyway and swept out wordlessly.
Merlin tossed the meat on the grass to a gathering crowd that followed him from the kitchen.
He spoke, "Here," in dragon language.
Aithusa hissed at him. Merlin backed away and into a darkened shadow.
Aithusa ate it with a crunch of bones.
Merlin took in his new surroundings. Broken walls and archways stood alone on rocky fields. There was a long strip called the "Dragon Run," an enormous corridor a grown dragon could use to access a mountain-hewn shelter.
They built most of the palace close to the mountain, but a scan from the tower revealed that they had cut away large portions of rock to protect it from landslides. Merlin wasn't sure where he was, but he was isolated, likely in the White Mountains.
Merlin found his old clothes and settled into a secret nook behind a broken wall high above the courtroom. He could listen to whatever he wanted, tucked behind the shadows around the banister.
"There's only a matter of time before she's exposed to this Dyfed," said Deseret. "She's a young woman. I could expect no one entering so young to know the kingdom's history. You're throwing her body to the flies."
"Thank for that visualization ambassador," said Cardel. "Dyfed sees this as an opportunity to control the remaining kingdoms of the old ways. He believes that if he gets control of Avalon Gate and access to the isle, his power will become an unstoppable empire as the old ways recover. Access to magic sites will be in his control, as will all those who visit them. He could pick his enemies and throw them to Camelot like he does his dungeons."
Deseret had long dark hair and an almost gaunt angular face, but he looked younger than all of them. He settled back lazily. "He could goad us into war and at such a risky time, it could eradicate the old ways."
"The old ways are safe," said Cardel. "The Desir is still strong, druids still visit the palace, and the royal family is still in place."
"What about this Emrys?" said Deseret.
Merlin glanced up.
"I heard he killed Morgana Pendragon."
"Morgana was loyal to the Saxons. They would have gained her power, but once the battle was won, they'd have turned on us with military force if necessary –and the Druids."
Merlin shrank back from the conversation.
The cook here was much kinder than the woman he delt with in Camelot. He gave Merlin tea and a sweetened broth. "I know it's thick, but drink it. It'll be easier." Tor kept an eye on Merlin. Merlin watched Tor work.
Merlin leaned forward and clasped his hands. "How long have you lived in the castle?"
Tor scoffed.
"How long have you known the princess?"
He shrugged incredulously. "She's never lived here either. About a week. I knew her aunt, Sebile. We believe she was assassinated."
"By magic?"
"She grew ill. It's death despite the magic that seems to show the opposite. It was much too fast, so the princess and the court physician believed it poisonous. Two servants who touched the body were affected. One still lies in the court."
Merlin breathed and forced down the rest of the broth.
Curiosity got the better of Merlin. They'd left the body covered in cloth in the Great Hall. Doors were open for viewing, so no one stopped him from approaching. Merlin sighed, took a spear from a mount, and lifted the sheet.
Merlin looked over the body as an alarmed knight approached. There was no sign of magic, but there were bruises. Merlin swiped his hand over the body, checking if he could feel the influence of a magic spell, but there was nothing. The unnamed knight came beside Merlin.
"Our physician believes the bathwater may have been poisoned."
"Wise. Is the bathwater still standing, too?" said Merlin sarcastically.
The knight took the spear from Merlin and pushed the cloth back over him. "Well, yes. Not after how horrible it was." The knight grunted.
"You have records of who came into contact with her?"
"There were records, but Cardell's quarters were broken into. The queen had been ill naturally; she left instructions in a will, so the council presumed it was her."
"What do you think?"
"She could never have done this."
"Is the princess safe?" said Merlin quietly.
The knight folded his arms. "They've been losing her to the woods; she hasn't bathed once in the palace."
Merlin shook his hand.
"Meilyr," said the knight.
"I have already searched the bath quarters," said Meilyr.
Merlin didn't listen. "Maybe more evidence will come when the culprit realizes people are poking around." Merlin stopped suddenly. They'd passed laughing in an open room with a roaring fire.
The princess was sitting on a table, wrapped in a cloak and a long dress covering her feet. Merlin blinked at the flashing light as a sorcerer juggled a few flaming orbs. He caught them and smiled.
Merlin hushed and shuffled Meilyr out of sight.
"All right," she said, visibly still, "I believe you. But I still have the opening in case there are more sorcerers from the Druids."
"Ah," groaned Gillie. "It's been days. The Druids know there's an opening. Perhaps they're not willing to let go of their sorcerers. Or," Gillie's shoulders slumped. "Perhaps I am one of the few left. You and I could be the only ones."
Gillie.
That was many years ago. Gillie was once a young sorcerer that had once traveled to compete in Uther's games. "Merlin?" Gillie gaped when he noticed him.
The princess turned her head. Her face lit in the firelight. "You know the Dragon Lord?"
Gillie tilted his head and raised his eyebrows. "Dragon Lord?" said Gillie. "I guess I do."
"I told you we'd meet again," said Merlin.
"Gillie here is the only applicant for the position of court sorcerer."
"You're hiring a sorcerer?" said Merlin.
"Ah," she sighed, "Of course. I thought it'd be best to protect myself and to show that the old ways were still welcome. Maybe if she'd had one, my aunt would still be alive."
Meilyr escorted Gwendolen back to the court. "C'mon," he said.
Gillie trailed Merlin warily. "Where have you been all this time?"
"She doesn't know you have magic?" he whispered. "Why?"
Merlin reared back. "I've spent my life protecting her enemies," he said incredulously. "And everything I've ever done has just made things worse." Merlin folded his arms.
Gillie's jaw set. "This one is looking for magic to protect her. It's part of who she is. You finally have the glimpse of freedom you need, and you, you won't even try?"
Merlin frowned. "You can try Gillie. Just know that it's dangerous."
"Everything truly worth doing is dangerous," said Gillie. "I won't stop, though. I'm going to protect this princess with my life." He shrugged away.
"Don't tell her," Murmured Merlin.
"Why? Don't want her to know your war crimes?" said Gillie. "Don't worry. I won't."
Merlin trailed after him. "I'm on the way to the physician. I hear he knows some things about the old queen. I guess you'll want to help?" Merlin hoped this would make some peace. It did.
Gillie followed.
They got to the physician's quarters, but it was suspiciously ajar. Merlin exchanged a look with Gillie and pushed the door hard.
Teive's arms stretched above him and toward the open door to the physician's office. He'd fallen over – or been beaten. Merlin found a head injury.
Teive named names. "Reikshald," a knight. It was no one he'd met, which made Merlin feel out of place.
The bell rang.
Merlin slyly pulled his hand along the physician's stomach. Merlin closed his eyes and pulled for energy, healing wordlessly and trying not to mouth.
Gillie darted out.
"The princess went this way!" he yelled at Merlin. Merlin clasped the old man's hands together and charged after Gillie, sliding in behind just as Meilyr emerged from a side set of stairs, pulling himself on the weight of his sword and holding Gwendolen under his arm.
"DON'T touch him!" cried Merlin. Gillie pulled his hands back. "His armor protected him," said Gillie.
"Take her!" said Meilyr. "I can get there."
Merlin ripped the princess's cape aside, pulled Gillie's, and wrapped her in Gillie's clean one.
They ran her down the passage to the physician's quarters; Merlin threw her onto a cleared table. The knights parted to the side, and Gillie followed.
"She's wet."
"They threw poisoned water on her," said Merlin.
"Should you be doing that?" said Gillie.
"Just avert your eyes." Merlin pulled the dress off of her, and Gillie locked the door.
"What was that?" said Merlin.
"You can't be seen doing magic," said Gillie.
Merlin cleared his throat. "There's a water pump there. We'll dilute it before it sinks into the skin."
"Bucket," said Gillie. He showed a filthy one.
Merlin grimaced. "Vomit's better than poison. Go!"
Gillie pumped frantically. They poured it over her and started pumping again. She didn't stir.
Merlin ripped the sheets from a nearby bed and threw it over her; then Merlin pushed them close. "Ic þe þurhhæle þin licsare."
He tried again. And after the second time, he looked up and was almost sure he'd seen her eyes open.
He shuttered and retreated in a terror that she'd seen. He pushed Gillie forward. "What are you doing?" mumbled Gillie.
"Reikshald." She sat up. "Threw a goblet of –"
"We know; I told the guard," said Merlin.
Her eyes settled on Gillie. She squinted. "Did you save me?" she said.
Gillie looked at Merlin, who nodded. "Yeah," said Gillie.
She slumped back, holding the sheet over herself. "Well, I have to make you a sorcerer now; you've been doing the job."
A pounding on the door. "Princess!" cried Raul.
"Yes," said Merlin. "She's here. Give a moment for decency!"
Rual kicked in the door. The knights rushed in to protect her.
Gillie quickly doused the clothes in magic fire. He would make a good Court Sorcerer, thought Merlin.
The physician found a way to antidote the poisoned bath, and Gillie came to sit by Merlin on the lawn. Merlin fed Aithusa, and the dragon watched from a wall. A night gathering on the grounds had begun.
They set the body of Sebile's servant on the pyre.
"You could have told her," said Gillie. "You saved her. That counts for something."
"I'm not what they need. I'm so tired."
"Life is a fight," said Gillie. "One day, I know it'll be different. You'll feel better again. I know it."
The princess kept her promise.
That night, Merlin eagerly opened a package.
Yes, the 'Once and future king' was in Avalon.