Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12
The room is dark, lit only by a sliver of sun peaking through a hole in the wall when Merlin comes too. A breeze through the dark dank cave causes Merlin to shutter. His wrists ache from being chained in cold iron above his head and the sound of water dripping echoing through the chamber pulls a sorrowful longing sound from Merlin’s scratchy throat.
Merlin: *whispering to himself* Well this couldnt get any worse…
Merlin looks quickly around him for the witchfinder to approach. From Merlin’s experience they usually can’t resist the urge to say something witty like ‘Oh, but it can’ or ‘I was hoping you would say that.’ If Gwaine was there they’d probably bet on which one it would be. Man, he missed Gwaine and Lancelot and Gwen and Arthur. Wait, Arthur! He was in the woods and he was looking for Merlin! Merlin smiled to himself sadly, it was nice to have people who cared about him…even if one of them was a clotpole.
The Witchfinder (Aredian): Oh my boy, there’s nothing to smile about.
Merlin: *sighing* I liked my options better. Why are we even here? Don’t you just want to deliver me to the king and get paid?
Aredian: But wheres the fun in that? Besides the king has some questions for you that he knows I can get answers for.
Merlin: If its about how I manage to look this good when I’ve been living in a forest for years, the answer manages to escape me too.
A bucket of cold water is thrown at Merlin, irritating his wounds. Merlin typically doesnt like the idea of killing anyone, but for Aredian he could make an exception. A small bit of magic sparks itself in Merlin’s abdomen, comforting him before diminishing once again. Merlin groans it frustration.
Aredian: What? No more quips? Did I get the fearsome Merlin to finally shut his trap?
Merlin: *gritting through his teeth* Not likely.
Aredian throws his head back in a laugh and Merlin watches as he brandishes a dagger.
Aredian: Good. The fun is just beginning.
Meanwhile, Lancelot, Gwen and Gwaine are thinking of plans to rescue Merlin at the hideout.
Gwaine: All I’m saying is if you have enough chickens-
Lancelot and Gwen: *monotone because they have heard Gwaine pitch this four times now* -they make for a good diversion.
Lancelot: Gwaine, we don’t even know where they took him. Merlin has made it pretty clear that he can break out of almost every dungeon and cell they keep him in so I doubt they’ve taken him to the castle.
Gwen: Plus, if he was at the castle, the king would be showing him off to everyone as an example and we haven’t heard anything like that yet.
Lancelot: Gwen, why don’t I escourt you back to the castle so you can try to gather more information. Gwaine can scavenge the woods for anywhere they might be keeping Merlin.
Gwen takes off in the direction of the castle leaving Lancelot with Gwaine for a moment.
Lancelot: We’ve been through these woods a thousand times, there’s only a few places that he could be hidden.
Gwaine: Right. I’ll scavenge the areas and you can send word if Gwen hears anything.
Lancelot: Be careful, Gwaine.
Gwaine: *smirking* When am I not?
Gwaine takes off in the other direction and Lancelot sighs. He really needs more friends that don’t attract trouble like it’s their job. But they are all he’s got and he’ll do anything for them. After a moment, Lancelot takes off after Gwen.
In another area of the forest, Arthur wakes up to in a bed of flowers. The sun is shining high above his head and his chainmail is laid out against the grass next to him, leaving him in his tunic and breeches. Birds are chirping near by and Arthur rubs at his eyes. He feels at peace, but something is wrong. He was supposed to do something or be somewhere. He knows it.
Rustling in a bush catches Arthur’s attention and he gets up quickly to draw his sword. A hooded figure approaches Arthur and raises out their hand.
Hooded figure: Arthur Pendragon.
Arthur: Who are you? Where is this place?
Hooded figure: I have many names but for our purposes you can call me Pirerymus.
Arthur: Pyramus? Like the tragic love story?
Pirerymus: *softly chuckles* No, but it this case it might work just as well. As for your where you are, I’m surprised you don’t recognize this place. It means a lot for your future and your destiny. Tell me, what does it feel like to you.
Arthur: Peaceful, warm, protecting. It feels sort of like it’s watching over me, like if I fell asleep again right here I would safe.
Pirerymus: and when have you felt that before?
Arthur thinks back and has a hard time placing it. He feels safe at Camelot but he’s always a little on edge waiting for the next person to try to kill him or for his father’s disapproving words. The only time he has really felt at ease is when he is with…
Pirerymus: He’s your protector and your destiny, but the same applies to you. You must protect him as well.
Arthur: How am I supposed to protect the most powerful sorceror ever? What can I do that he can’t?
Pirerymus: He may be very powerful but he is not a warrior. Not like you.
Arthur: Well, I don’t know how much good that’s going to do now. I don’t even know where he is and I still don’t know where I am or how it connects to our destiny.
Pirerymus: Oh, but you do. He told you exactly where he was.
Pirerymus: Yes. You need to learn how to understand what he is telling you, otherwise you two will never unite the land and bring about the golden age of Albion.
Arthur: I don’t have time for this. He’s in trouble.
Pirerymus: Emrys’s own well-being is not my main concern. You will find in time that he can handle a lot. However, if he loses control the safety of everyone and everything around him is at risk.
Arthur: Merlin would never hurt anyone.
Pirerymus: That may be the case, but if any outside forces got control of even a sliver of his true power they could do a great deal of damage.
Arthur: So, I’m supposed to keep people from stealing his magic?
Pirerymus: You are to protect him when he cannot protect himself just as he does for you. But you will need to work together this to work. Emrys has already opened up to you. Now, you must do the same. Follow me.
Pirerymus leads Arthur through the wildflowers until they get to a small lake and they stop at the water’s edge.
Pirerymus: Tell me, Arthur, what do you feel now?
Arthur: *pauses for a moment to take in his surroundings* There’s something in there. Something calling to me.
Pirerymus: Yes, I would guess so. After all, it was made for you.
Arthur looks back to the field of flowers. Most wildflowers have a cacophony of colors, but Arthur only sees here a very harmonious blue and golden yellow. Arthur closes his eyes for a minute and the calling from the lake grows. He wades into the lake.
