Fractures

by DJ Dubois

Camelot, Nemeth and their allies win the Battle of Shalott. However, everyone reacts to the two magical feats which turned the battle. Uther pressures Rodor into executing the Lady of Shalott. Merlin, meantime, is missing. Turmoil brews both in Camelot's retinue and within Nemeth's court. Dreams are shattered. Which way will Nemeth turn? How does Merlin figure into it?

1. The goddess Complains

Fractures

DJ Dubois

January-March 2024

Notes Part 1: Just so you know, I'm adding about six years onto Mithian's age in this story. In some of my other stories, she's about nine at the point of this particular instance. (It's usually related to flashbacks and references to the events in future contexts.) Here, she's fifteen. I'm presuming Merlin to be about the same age (maybe a little younger?) about the end of Season 1.

Notes Part 2: Merlin and his cohorts belong to the BBC and Shine. Other characters' copyrights will be brought up as needed. Please send comments to dante0220 .

Introduction

The triple goddess observes….

Sacrifice, service, and duty. These things drive the universe. Beings care for one another. In the post-Roman world, leaders lead and made decisions for their people. In exchange, their followers support the leaders and kingdoms. Agrarian, financial, and military support came to defend their land and domain. Sacrifice constituted in runover lands, time away from demesnes and manors, and bloodshed on battlefields. All parts of a kingdom working together. Allies supporting one another. Followers all supporting me.

Loyalty…ah! Aye! Knights supporting their masters. The masters supporting their followers. All willing to shed blood…. willing to die….

…and none more loyal than Emrys…the one known as Merlin of Ealdor….

Annals and songs sing of his feats on behalf of Camelot and later, Nemeth. Courage, Devotion, and Care kept him at Prince Arthur's side. Emrys took on a great deal for his liege and friend. He buried his true face and even chose Arthur over my service for a time. A last sacrifice, however, changed everything. A battle akin to others…and yet much greater and more destructive than others. Assembled armies met on that field…on that day. Willful Abandon swung Death's scythe about the field next to Astolat. Many of a generation fell on that field. Some nearly did…Emrys being one….

And the Pendragons had *no idea*. Despite Emrys' attempts to serve them, Compassion doomed him in Uther's eyes. And yet, stirred Hope in others.

This account will tell of that Rubicon and an alternate road for Emrys away from Camelot's stifling influence. Appreciation would come for him in other ways there. And service? Well, unlike Uther Pendragon, there are other royals willing to acknowledge such feats within the laws.

And so, we begin….