Chapter 26 ~ Merlin.

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Merlin hurried along the road, trying to keep his mind on the traffic but often finding it strayed back to the subject of Arthur and the knights, still lying still in the chamber but ready, skin and all, risen and smiling in position. Now they were just waiting, waiting for the threat that was to attack Albion. Merlin had been surprised, he thought they would have mobilized ages ago, heading for the place where the battle would commence. It hadn't taken him long to realize that they hadn't moved because the army were heading for there. Avalon. To take Merlin out before advancing upon the rest f the country. Well, they can't have been expecting the awaiting Knights, could they?...

He closed his eyes as a Lorry zoomed past him, throwing a cloud of dust into his face. He wiped the soft skin once the vehicle had passed, still marveling at the lack of wrinkles. He couldn't help loving his returned youth.

Opening his eyes, he turned his head to look ahead down the road once more, only to be greeted by two young boys, around sixteen or so. One was dark with soulful eyes and a slash across one cheek that pulled the right side of his face out of shape, and the other was freckled, blonde and handsome. And both had the same expressions of fear and dread.

''Sorry to bother you but d'you know where Lake Avalon is?'' The blonde one asked quickly, glancing around him as he spoke. 

Merlin quaked inside. Was this the oncoming storm?

''Why you heading there? It's not the best place to visit at this hour.'' He replied as smoothly as he could, taking time to inspect the two enquiring strangers. There were wands in their pockets, they were definitely wizards. But they couldn't be a threat. They were just two boys. What could they do?

The one with the slash stepped forward in earnest. ''Look, we need to speak to a man called Merlin; it's urgent. Do you have any idea where he lives, or could be?''

Merlin felt another wave of shock that quickly transformed into curiousity. Then he noticed the open book held in the hand of the dark boy and almost choked at the sight of the ink drawing he glimpsed on one of the pages. He looked from the book to the boys, who were still waiting in urgency. Then he found himself foolishly uttering those words.

''I am Merlin.''

He brought his hand up as soon as he said that doomed sentence, waiting for the spells to strike. But instead, the two young men stood looking at him, agape in shock. The blonde was the first to recover, gulping;

''But you - you're - you're supposed to be old!''

Merlin could of laughed as the boy's expression became that of horror and embarassment. Instead, Merlin glanced around before blowing a hole in the hedge next to him that separated the road from a woodland. Beckoning the two boys  to follow, he strode into the woodland until the road was no longer visible.

''What do you want.'' He turned to the youths, who had got over shock and now looked concerned.

The one with the scar stepped forward. ''We came to warn you - and to help you. There are two witches heading for here on a mission to kill you, with the possibilty of many more also showing up.''

Karil watched the man closely, still trying to get used to the fact that a twenty-year-old Merlin was actually standing before him, nodding gravely at the information Karil had just given him. Merlin was not at all what he'd expected, instead of the old, bent man that Maurelle had pictured at the end of her story, he was tall, youthful, with pale skin, black hair and dark grey eyes. Despite the description he looked nothing like Maurelle.

''I knew of an attack.'' Merlin answered gravely before looking up at the two boys. ''But who is coming for me? Do you know?''

Karil nodded and took a deep breath before exchanging glances with his friend and looking up at the legendary wizard that stood before him.

''Maurelle Pendragon.'' Merlin inhaled deeply despite the witch being expected.

''And.'' Karil looked at the wizard deliberately. ''Mirror Gorlois. Decendant of Morgause Gorlois.''