This is my first attempt at nairaland. I have
continued the story from the end of series 5
and included explanations for why Merlin was
seen as he was at the end of that series. I
hope you enjoy but will be very happy to
receive constructive criticism as well as
comments and suggestions. Thanks to all who
left reviews I am really interested in your
thoughts. I'm new to writing so any
suggestions on how I can improve will be
taken seriously.
This story would be more like a Merlin movie
but I do hope to continue their adventures in
the future. I have introduced a few new
characters let me know what you think of
them.
This story has no beta so any mistakes are my
own. I don't like mistakes so if you see
something that needs fixing then please let me
know.
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin
Merlin - Season 6
The Return of Arthur – Part 1
Chapter 1
In a land of myth and a time of magic, the
destiny of a great kingdom rests on the
shoulders of a young man. His name is
Merlin.
Merlin looked out across the lake to the boat
that carried Arthur, tears blurred his vision. He
couldn't bear the thought of telling Gaius he
had failed he had such faith in him. How
would he ever face Gwen again, Arthur's death
would break her heart. He dropped to his
knees the tears falling down his cheeks as the
grief took him. He curled up on the bank and
cried.
Images flashed through his mind one after
another in quick succession. Percival looking
closely at the ground following a muddy trail,
he was searching for something or someone.
Gwen and Gaius were crying, Arthur's tattered
cloak lay before them with his own water
bottle slashed and burned.
The scene changed again and he saw himself
as an older man walking along a strange
road. Large horseless carriages thundered
past him and the ground trembled. He could
not breathe, the sky darkened until all was
black and he heard cruel laughter all around
him.
The darkness cleared and Leon was in the
throne room stood next to Gwen, he said, 'The
King is dead, the King is dead.' The words
echoed in his mind and all went dark once
more. He opened his eyes and found he was
still lying on the bank by the lake.
He heard someone calling him from a long
way off and he wondered if he was still
dreaming. Turning over onto his back he
looked up at the sky, it was completely grey
matching his mood. Rain, so light it was
almost mist, gently washed away the tears
drying on his cheeks. He was soaked to the
skin but he didn't care, he closed his eyes
again hoping to block out the pain he felt
deep inside.
"Merlin!" he heard the voice again in his head,
he sighed and opened his eyes once more. He
sat up slowly, stiff from sleep and rubbed his
eyes with the heel of his hand. He had no idea
what the time was, the sun was hidden. He
looked around the clearing for whoever called
him but couldn't see anyone in the grey light.
He heard someone calling him again, the voice
was closer now coming from the direction of
the water. He looked out across the lake but
he could see very little in the dim light. The
island was hidden but he could just make out
the boat that carried Arthur. There were
several tiny lights gliding across the surface of
the water. He rubbed his eyes once more but
they were still there. One of them broke away
from the rest and moved towards him the
others continued towards the boat.
"Hey," he yelled as he stood up. His clothes
were drenched and stuck to his body, he
shivered. The heat had gone from the day and
he felt cold, chilled to the bone. The lights
continued to move across the lake, they paid
no attention to him.
The light coming towards him became brighter
and he lifted his arm to shade his eyes. Even
with his arm lifted and his eyes closed he
could feel the light surrounding him. It was
warm and gentle and he felt no fear. As the
light receded he lowered his arm and opened
his eyes.
In front of him, hovering just above the surface
of the water stood a tall woman. She was
wearing a white robe and her face was hidden.
He walked towards her without thinking until
he stood at the edge of the water. She lowered
her hood and her silver hair fell in soft curls
down her back, she tucked loose strands
behind her ears which were large and pointed.
Her skin was light blue and as smooth as the
water beneath her feet. Her face was unlined
but her large eyes were deep blue, faceted like
crystals and Merlin knew she was ancient. Her
gaze was piercing but she looked at him with
pity.
"Hello Merlin," she said smiling at him, her
voice was deep and although she spoke out
loud he also heard the words echo within his
mind.
"Who are you..? Where are they taking
Arthur?" he asked, looking behind her at the
boat moving slowly across the lake. He saw a
glimpse of another world and for a moment he
felt disorientated like he was looking down
from a great height. The feeling passed and
once again he saw the lake, the rain making
ripples and tiny waves on the surface. No rain
fell on the woman stood before him, her robe
remained dry and she was bathed in a soft
light like that of a summer sun.
"We are elves and they are taking Arthur to
Avalon. There they will try to heal his body
and give his spirit a place to rest," she replied
turning to look at the boat now moving slowly
towards the centre of the lake.
"He really is dead then, I failed?" asked Merlin
looking up at her. Although she looked
strange he felt no fear, he knew he could trust
her.
"Your destiny has been written since the dawn
of time. As long as you did what you thought
was right you could not fail," she said, her
voice was strange almost as though she was
singing to him. He wondered once more if he
was still dreaming or perhaps he had also
died and would now be returned to those he
had lost.
"It was my destiny to save Arthur, can you
help him?" he asked, turning to see if his body
was still lying on the bank. The sense that
none of this was really happening was very
strong. All he could see was the flattened
grass where he had been sleeping but it was
faint, the area was no longer dry, although
light the steady rain quickly soaked into the
ground. Could these elves help save Arthur?
He knew very little about them only the few
stories he had heard as a child.
"Come, you are weary and full of grief, in
Avalon you too may rest a while. My name is
Alba and I will do all in my power to help
you." She beckoned him to come with her.
Merlin hesitated for a moment then walked
towards her, he had nothing to lose and it was
his duty to follow Arthur wherever he may go.
She turned and moved towards the centre of
the lake, she seemed to fly but he could see
no wings. He looked down wondering why he
wasn't wading through the lake and saw that
he was walking on the water. His boots left
little ripples but did not break the surface. The
lake was dark and smooth like glass. As he
approached the island he realised it was no
longer raining. He looked up at the sky and
saw it was now blue without a cloud in sight,
the sun was shining and his clothes were dry.
Looking back he could just make out the far
bank through a grey veil. He had left his world
behind and had entered the immortal world of
Avalon.
Merlin followed Alba to the island. Now he
could see clearly it seemed so much larger
than he expected it to be. The boat that had
carried Arthur was pulled up on a grassy bank
but it was empty. The other elves were
nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Arthur?" Merlin asked, looking
around him. They were stood in a small inlet
with steep embankments on two sides. A white
chalk path wound its way through the grass
between them to the crest of a hill and
disappeared out of sight. Although nothing
seemed odd or out of place nothing felt real.
Merlin wondered once again if he was still
dreaming.
"His spirit is with my kin, I will take you to
him but first I want to show you your destiny,"
she said turning to face him once more.
"My destiny was to save Arthur," said Merlin,
he sighed then sat on the grass by the boat.
Wrapping his arms around his knees he
looked down to the water. He doesn't want to
hear any more about his destiny, whoever
decided such things were wrong.
"Your destiny is strong Merlin," said Alba
looking at the young man before her and
feeling his grief as though it were her own.
"He's dead, even if his spirit may live on in
Avalon. I was supposed to save him and I was
too late, I have failed." He felt so tired and
alone, he rested his head on his knees.
"Far from it Merlin, your long journey is just
beginning and soon you will understand that
things are not always as they seem. Your
destiny is to unite the old ways and the new
and bring about a new time, the time of the
white and the time of Albion."
Merlin looked down at the grass struggling
with his tears. "I cannot do this, not alone. I'm
nothing without Arthur, he was my friend and
it was his courage and honour that would
have brought about this new world not me."
Merlin looked up at the woman before him,
she was strange and beautiful but he just
wished she would leave him alone with his
grief. He looked away from her back down to
the water and closed his eyes.
"No one can escape their destiny. Not all is as
it seems, Arthur had to die so you would bring
him here to save him," she said sitting down
next to him.
"Gaius said only the sidhe could save him,"
said Merlin, turning to look at her.
"Gaius is knowledgeable and wise but few
mortals have seen Avalon and most believe
elves to be creatures of myth. The source of
the sidhe's power is indeed here at the Sacred
Isle but it is not theirs alone. There are many
others that call Avalon home and share that
power. The elves have lived on Avalon far
longer than the sidhe and we are far more
knowledgeable in the art of healing." She
stood up and held out her hand to Merlin, he
hesitated then took her hand and stood next
to her.
Alba led Merlin up the bank and along the
path between the grassy slopes. There were
small blue and yellow flowers in the grass.
Here and there flowering bushes climbed the
bank their sweet fragrance filled the air. As
they climbed he saw trees appear along the
top of each bank.
Even though his heart was heavy he looked
around with wonder. Everything seemed so
alive, the colours of the grass and flowers
looked bright and vivid. Even the sky seemed
bluer here and there was no cloud. There
seemed to be a hum coming from everything
as though the land was singing to him.
Alba talked to him as they walked her voice
was quiet but he heard every word. The things
she told him formed images in his mind. He
saw the long years of the immortal races. The
patient waiting and watching as men took
control over the lands they were once free to
roam.
"The sidhe do not care for the children of men,
they only care for wealth and power. They use
dark magic for their own gain and men used
to fear and worship them. They were treated
as gods and would enchant or kill those that
angered them. Over time men found they could
capture them and even kill them and their
power over men weakened. They were forced
to flee to the only refuge immortals have,
Avalon is not of your world and mortals
cannot follow them here." She turned to look
at Merlin, he looked up at her but did not
speak. She turned and started to walk again
continuing her story about the lives of the
immortals.
"Elves never wished for such treatment, they
enjoyed the company of men and taught them
the healing arts, how to speak with the mind
and how to use magic for good. Long before
the great purge most of us left the world of
men and made Avalon our home. The druids
still follow our teachings and are able to hear
our thoughts. We were sad to leave but we
bear you no ill will and will help you if we
can."
"You can heal Arthur and bring him back?" he
asked. He had stopped walking and she turned
to look back at him.
"Arthur will rise again, he is the Once and
Future King. He has been taken to a place of
healing, my kin will remove the shard but the
wound was deep and it will take time to heal.
Here his spirit can rest while his body recovers
but for his spirit to be returned to his body a
price must be paid, you know this," she said
walking back towards Merlin and putting her
hand on his shoulder.
"I will gladly give my life for his if that is the
price," said Merlin hoping that he might not
be too late. Alba turned and beckoned him to
follow her once more. They had reached the
top of the hill, the path continued through a
vibrant forest. The trees were unlike any he
had ever seen, these were far more beautiful.
The leaves were the richest shades of green,
red and gold and each one was perfectly
formed. The trunks of the trees and the
branches seemed newly made yet ancient. The
whole forest seemed to vibrate with a hidden
energy.
"Come just a little further, there is something I
must show you," Alba said leading him
through the forest. He followed her through
the trees until they came to a clearing with
large standing stones in the centre. They
looked like the stones at Nemeton though
these were not ruins they looked well cared for
and far larger. Merlin realised they were taller
than he first thought as they were set in a
depression in the ground like a huge bowl,
with grassy slopes all around them.
They were positioned in two semi circles
separated by the path that ran between them.
The stones formed three doorways on each
side of the path. In the very centre of the circle
there stood a stone table holding a huge
crystal. It was split into seven spurs each one
pointing at a doorway the central one pointing
to the sky. It was similar to those he had seen
in the crystal cave but these were far greater
in size.
The path widened at the top of the slope and
led down between the stones. It split into two
around the table in the centre. On the far side
of the table the path joined again and
continued up the bank on the far side. The elf
walked to the edge of the bank and stopped
waiting for Merlin.
As he got closer he felt the crystals power, it
hummed and the air around it shimmered. It
shined with a white light but as Merlin stood
beside Alba it turned dark and the air all
around them seemed to darken. For the first
time since he had set foot on Avalon he felt
afraid. The humming faltered and became
screaming voices, he covered his ears with his
hands trying to block out the noise. He stared
at the crystal as though mesmerized and
could not look away. The dark cleared and the
crystal shined white again, the screaming
faded, the humming returned and the air
around them brightened. No longer afraid or
paralyzed he turned to look at Alba.
"Here is the heart of Avalon and the source of
our power. It is a secret known only to those
that live here and those we choose to show.
Each doorway is a gateway to another world
born of magic. Each of these worlds like your
own draws on the power of the crystal. These
worlds and the crystal hold the key to the
balance."

;DI will continue later let me rest a little;cos am so tired now :-

Me too I'm resting after reading a paragraph..

thrizzle:
Me too I'm resting after reading a paragraph..

.
hmmm don't get me vexed like kilode
anyway tnx for commenting

Well done, but you need to work on your description, you should paint a true picture of the event.

Timothy3113:
Well done, but you need to work on your description, you should paint a true picture of the event.

okay

continue for those that are interested, coz' I've read it completely from one website I'm not going to disclose.

I will be posting 2morrow...a beg make I gbiyola small