There Will Come A Poet...
Upon the very top of a glowing green hill, a man stood tall, the shining sun breathing its flame down upon the young mortal. In the distance a strong castle stood surrounded by towns and trees that held strong against the violent heat. The admirer sighed, before continue the path to Camelot, a long and treacherous journey, a hefty backpack hanging low on his back for the three day travel from the village Ealdor.
A merlin swooped low across the sky, the man smiled lightly upon seeing it, like a reminder of home. The smell of nature was welcomed, and the sight of it struck a strange feeling of nostalgia from when he was younger. Like the warmth that would encircle him with a mother’s hug, the feel of stew sitting warmly in an empty stomach.
He continued his trek through the lightened forest, determined to reach the citadel before night fell upon the land and brought her horrors with it. He did not wish to be caught by any bandits or slave traders so close to the end of his journey, it would be no good for him. For he wished to know how his uncle is to help him, and what a new home will bring to him, if a destiny will be waiting for him in the empty air of the strongest kingdom in Albion. Intertwining him to the very land he walks to.
The Earth’s magic fed him the energy he required to make it to the citadel, filled with bustling noise. He walked through the crowded streets, weaving through the people, trying to view what was happening to create such chaos, unless this is what it always was like. He had hoped it wasn’t, he had left his mother and sister behind and hoped this wasn’t what he was going to be stuck with. He walked past a beautiful girl, eyes that were deep and dark that shone with an odd sense of kindness and understanding that not many had anymore. Hair that was like chocolate tied to the back of her head, but that didn’t stop curls from springing out to hug her face at the front. She wore a simple lavender dress that clung to her softly as she guided a child to find their mother by the water pump. She smiled a bright smile towards him after she saw him, her dress hung low on her collarbones revealing a gorgeous soul mark.
A stem of lavender encircling a white dragon that was releasing pink from its nostrils, a look on its face as if it was pleased by the feeling, completely relaxed.
He smiled back before entering the castle courtyard.
A chopping block lay at the centre, a man muttering a prayer as he was laid upon it. The executioner stood like the Grim Reaper himself, a grave look upon his face as he readied his axe. The King himself stood beside his Queen, raising his hand to command silence. Silence did in fact fall upon the crowded yard.
“Let this be a lesson to all, sorcery in the Kingdom of Camelot will not be tolerated. Look upon this sorcerer in his last moments, and learn that you will be next if you dare attempt to commit this crime within Camelot.”
The King lowered his hand, and the executioner swung his axe. The Queen flinched away, no longer able to hide her tears at what her husband was doing to her kind. A young woman had been peering from the window. Her black hair hanging loosely around her face and waist. Her pale skin complimented by her silk blue dress, unable to look away from what was happening but horrified all the same. The fear on her face was unmistakable as someone who too was part of the sorcerers kin.
“Uther Pendragon! You have taken the lives of many; it will end soon. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. A son. For a son. My pain will be known by you and your wife, for what you have done is unforgiveable.”
A woman, dressed in tattered rags had emerged at the front of the crowd, her voice was hoarse and thick with emotion.
“Guards! Seize her!”
Before they even had the chance to reach her, the woman was already gone from in front of their eyes.
“Find her.”
With that, Uther turned and walked away, beckoning his Queen to join him, maybe to comfort her in the safety of their chambers.
The man who had only just arrived was struck with a sense of his own oncoming doom, his magic prickled his skin as if to warn him. He gulped before making his way to the East tower to ask someone for directions. He spotted the woman from before and decided to approach her, she looked kind enough to help him.
“I’m sorry, I’m new to the city, do you happen to know the way to the Court Physician’s chambers?”
The woman looked at him and smiled.
“Oh, you’re looking for Gaius. Of course, follow me it’s right this way!”
“Thank you.”
She walked at a brisk pace, smiling at everyone who saw her. They entered a short tower before she abruptly stopped.
“Oh my, how silly of me! I completely forgot to introduce myself. I’m Gwenhwyfar, but you can call me Gwen.”
The man smiled before quickly realising that he should probably also introduce himself.
“I’m Merlin, Gaius is my uncle, it’s why I’m here actually.”
“Oh that’s lovely, I had been worried for quite some time that Gaius may not have anyone anymore, not after the Great Purge.”
Merlin was confused as he and the brunette started to walk up the stairs to what he assumed was Gaius’ chambers. The Great Purge? He hadn’t heard of that, he was sure he would have if it had truly been that great.
“The Great Purge?”
He questioned, he felt bad for questioning the poor girl, but he feared this is something he should know.
“You haven’t heard of it? It’s when King Uther decided to outlaw magic roughly twenty years ago and anyone who was even suspected of having magic was put on a pyre or had their head lost. Don’t you know?”
“Ah no, I haven’t heard of such a thing, but I am from Cenred’s kingdom, well barely really, on the border between. I was mainly told that magic was bad, and a source of corruption.”
“Well, that does explain some things, anyway here we are Gaius’ chambers.”
Gwen tilted her head downwards slightly before flashing him a bright smile and hurrying off. There was something about her, Merlin just couldn't place what.
Merlin looked at the door, he was 2 days early, unsure how Gaius would react to him being early. He swung the door open, causing the old man to fall from balcony at the top of his steps. Without thinking Merlin felt time slow and his eyes burn as he moved a bed to catch the fallen man. In a flurry of robes, the man stood up and rushed over,
“Who are you?”
His old voice was laced with accusation as he stared the younger man down.
“I’m Merlin, Hunith’s son.”
The fear clearly evident in his voice as he spoke, no longer sure that the man with long white hair was the Gaius his mother spoke so highly of.
“Merlin? My boy you weren’t due for another two days, you gave me quite the fright there! What are you doing using magic so openly in Camelot! It is on the pain of death to even associate with someone who uses it!”
Merlin could already tell this was going to be a very long day.