Chapter 2: Dragon's Call
"Are you sure I can't just stay here? Will said he wasn't going to tell anyone." I asked as my mom tripled checked that I had everything. Why she does that when all i don't have much to pack is beyond me.
"Yes Merlin. Will may have said he wouldn't tell but what if he lets something slip by accident. You know that boy is terrible at keeping secrets when he is angry. What happens next time you see are being bullied. What happens next time you are called weak. Will in his anger might just let it slip how strong you really are. I'm sorry but we can't risk it. You are going to camelot. Your uncle Giaus will be there waiting for you. Now put this on." She stated stuffing my long black hair into a little brown cap. Since I would be traveling to camelot alone my mom suggested I dress up as a young boy so as to avoid possibly being raped by a passing bandit.
May seem silly to some nobels but as peasants we don't have the protection of the crown like they do. Its quite normal for a lone young lady to seemingly vanish off the roads. So as a form of protection anytime a girl must go anywhere outside the village alone they dress as a boy. Its sad that we have to do that but if it keeps me safe so be it.
"Fine but why camelot? Its the anti magic captial. They execute people like me."
"Because my dear no one would think to look for a sorceress in the middle of an anti sorcerer city. You will be hiding in plain sight. Now enough questions you have a long journey a head of you. Off you go." Kissing my forehead and waving me off, I watched as my mom disappeared back into our hut. No doubt to make some new herbal medicine for a villager.
Sighing and turning to the road ahead I hoisted my bag over my shoulder and set out for camelot.
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"Let this be a lesson for all. Magic and those who pratice it have no place in camelot." I shivered in dread as the king bringing his hand down singled for the executioner to chop the sorcerers head off. Taking a deep breath and turning a way from the platform where the poor boys head was rolling I started to walk away. I froze gasping with the rest of the crowd as a huge whirl wind appeared in the center of the crowd. Revealing a little old woman in a black cloak and furious green eyes glaring up at the king.
"How dare you kill my son. Mark my words Uther Pendragon your son will die by my hands. A son for a son." She cackled disappearing in another whirl wind as the guards converged on her. I watched silently as the King scowling swept from the balcony back into the castle. Sighing and heading toward the physicans room I sadly gazed up at where the boys body was being removed. How many more lices must be taken before Uther will stop this pointless war against magic.
Knocking on the door, and slowly pushing it open, I peeked my head into my uncles room. Smiling upon noticing him on the second floor reaching for a book I called out to him.
"Uncle?" I gasped fearfully as he turning toward my voice fell backwards through the now broken railing. My eyes flashing gold and slowing time I quickly moved his bed underneath him just as he hit it. I sighed in relief as he leaped to his feet turning to face me.
"Uncle..." I began taking a step toward him.
"No stay where you are." He snapped. His fearful blue eyes staring me down. I stopped my approach frowning at him in confusion.
"How do you know magic and why are you here."
"Uncle its me... Its merlin your niece." I said pulling my hair out of my cap. Revealing my long curly black hair.
"Merlin but your not supposed to be here until Wednesday. "
"It is Wednesday. "
"Oh. Wait you didn't anwser my question how do you know magic?" He demanded his eyes which had softened at my identity hardening again.
"I was born with it. My mom said shortly after I was born I was floating my her cooking pots above me in the air with magic." I replied frowning more deepily at his anger.
"But thats impossible. " He whispered more to himself than me.
"Obviously not." I replied shrugging.
"Well anyway you can drop your things off in the room just up those stairs. Oh and Merlin thank you." Smiling and nodding at him, accepting his thanks, I scurried up the stairs dropping my bag on the little rickety bed in the room. That night as I slept I dreamt of a wierd cranky dragon beneath the castle calling to me.
The next day deciding I didn't feel like being harrassed by any guys flirting with me. (Happened a lot in eldador. Especially when knights from cendred would appear. ) I donned my boy disquise again heading out to the market. I paused in the square. Frowning as I saw a group of knights picking on a boy holding a shield. Sending arrows at him and laughing when he would panic and dive out of the way. I could already feel a vein pulsing in anger on my forehead as I approached. Kneeling down by the boy who was now cowering on the ground, I smiled at him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Are you ok." I softly inquired as his tearful eyes met mine. Before he could respond I was jerked to my feet by a hand on my arm. Turning and glaring at the knight holding me. I jerked out of his grasp folding my arms over my chest as I stood protectively in front of the boy.
"What do you think your doing boy." He snapped.
"You've had your fun my friend..."
"My friend?"
"My mistake your too prattish to be called my friend."
"You can't talk to me that way."
"I think I just did."
"I could have you in the dungeons for that."
"Who do you think you are the king?"
"No I'm his son Arthur."
"Crap." I muttered wincing as I was dragged to the dungeons by two burly guards.
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"Are you an idiot. You would think you would keep my head down seeinfg as what you are is a death sentence. Yet you go and insult the prince. Just be glad I managed to get you a lighter sentence. " Giaus scolded as a tomato smacked me in the face. Straining against the restraints of the stalks I scowled up at my uncle beneath my tomato filled eyelashes.
"Just try to stay out of trouble." He sighed walking away and being replaced by a young woman in a blue cloak smiling down at me.
"I saw what you did. That was very brave to stand up to Arthur like that. He can be such a bully sometimes, but he really is a good guy." She stated pulling out a cloth from her bag and wiping off some of the tomato on my face.
"Yeah well if he is a good guy than he really needs to start showing it." I scowled pulling away from her as much as I can. Sighing and putting away her rag she smiled sadly at me.
"Yeah. He can be a prat. Well I will see you around um..."
"Merlin, my names Merlin."
"Gwens mine. See ya merlin." She called walking away as more vegtables pelted me in the face.
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Grumbling as I made my way home from the stalks I groaned as I heard an annoying voice behind me.
"If it isn't the brave little lad." Gritting my teeth to keep my temper in check, I attempted to just walk away. Only to freeze at his next words.
"Aww don't run away. We were having so much fun together." Sighing and turning to face him I glared placing my hands on my hip.
"Look I knew you were a prat. I just didn't realize you were a royal prat."
"You can't talk to me that way. I could take you apart with one blow."
"I could take you apart with less than that." I laughed turning back to continue on my way.
"Hey Don walk away from me." He snapped reaching to snag my shoulder, but grabbing my hat instead. Revealing my long curlyblack hair. Turning back to him I laughed at his dumb founded gaze.
"Your a girl?"
"Give the prat a prize." I teased snatching my hat back and placing it on my head. Not bothering to stuff my hair back inside of it. They already knew my gender so whats the point of hiding it.
"Now if you will escuse me my prat." I mock bowed before marching away. Leaving him staring after me in shock.
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"Merlin." Sitting up in bed. I tiredly gazed around me trying to fiqure out what woke me.
"Merlin." Frowning and throwing off my covers. I made my way out of my room. Wondering if it was Giaus calling me. Upon seeing him fast asleep in bed and the voice still calling me I decided to follow it to the source. Throwing on my shoes and grateful i had slept in my clothes rather than my undergarments I followed the voice. It ledme past some guards asleep on the job and down a set of stairs, past the dungeons into an underground cave. I gasped when I saw a dragon staring at me from its perch on a rock.
"What a small child for such a big destiny."
"I am not a child." I snapped forgetting my fear for the moment in the face of my anger.
"Everyone's a child in my eyes young one." He chuckled, his old eyes dancing with glee.
"Well ok i will give you thst, but why have you woken me and called me down here dragon."
"My name is Kilgharrah, and I have called you to tell you of your destiny to protect the once and future king. It destined that the once and future king will bring magic back to the land with the help of his magical protector Emrys. The greatest sorceress that has and ever will live on the earth. That is you."
"And who may UI ask is this king I am supposed to be protecting?" I asked humoring the old geezer.
"Arthur. "
"No, no way. There is no way he is this great king. He is a prat and a bully. Iwant nothing to do with him." I snapped turning to walk away.
"No one can escape their destiny young witch. Not even the great Emrys." He called.
"Yeah, yeah whatever. Crazy old man." I muttered heading back to bed.
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"Clean the leech tank Merlin, pick herbs Merlin, Take this sleeping daught to Morgana merlin." I grumpily grumbled rubbing sleepily at my tired eyes. Uncle in a fit of insanatity had woken me up at the crack of dawn to take a sleeping draught to lady Morgana. Apparently the poor girl suffers from nightmares. Yawning I was just walking past the lady Helen's room when I noticed the door open. Curious I decided to investigate. Peeking my head in I gasped as I saw the lady helen sitting at her vanity brushing her hair. What caught my attention though and made me gasp was the fact that the woman staring back at Helen in the mirror wasn't helen but the witch from a few days piror. Rubbing my eyes and looking again I frown in confusion as only Helen's reflection stared back.
"Must be more tired than I thought." I muttered shaking my head and walking away.
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Squirming uncomfortably in the dress Giaus forced me to wear. I stared miserably beside him as Uther welcomed everyone to the harvest feast and lady Helen began to sing. Why my uncle made me come as his apprentice is beyound me. I think he just wanted an escuse to force me to wear a dress rather than my breeches. Sighing I turned to ask my uncle if I could possibly retire for the night when I blinked in confusion as I found him asleep. Looking around I gasp as I see everyone asleep but Helen and I. Thats when I notice the daggar she has pulled from her bodice aiming it at the prince.
Thinking on my feet I allowed my eyes to flash golden and sent the chandelier crashing down ontop of her. I breathed a silent sigh of relief as everyone began to awaken. Before the king could ask what had happened, lady helen who had once more transformed to her old self used the last of her strength to throw her daggar right at Arthur. Slowing time I raced to his side pulling him from danger and untentionally right ontop of me. Freezing we stared at eachother in silence. Arthur propped above me, his face inches from mine.
"Um... can you get off of me." I stammered breaking the spell. Turning as red as he tamato Arthur scrambled to do just that. Once we were both on our feet only than did we notice everyone's eyes on us. Including the kings.
"You saved my sons life." He finally sputtered shocked.
"It was nothing. Anyone would have done it." I muttered gazing awkwardly at my feet.
"Yet it was you who ultimately saved him." The King countered.
"Well yeah but..."
"You must be rewarded." He cut me off the wheels already turning in his head. I already did not like where this was going.
"Really your highness thats honestly not necessary." I frantically pleaded already looking for an exit.
"Nonesense. This calls for the highest honors. You shall be my sons maidservant." He stated happily quickly leaving the room before ethier Arthur or I could complain. By the look on Arthurs face he definitely wanted to complain. Stupid bloody dragon was right. I really can't escape my destiny.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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