Mordred 8.1

8

The Previous Realm

I recall the day Merlin was crowned the Head of the Council. It was ironic for me to use the term ‘crown’ but the affair was grand. Okay it was due to the rumours that Merlin had snatched the victory from his nearest rival, Utter Pendragon. Merlin had been on good terms with Pendragon for decades. The later was the one who tamed the dragons and then learned their characters to make them obliging aides. It was some decades back when the two split over some issue until today was never disclosed. Merlin then took the offensive and the friendship was never re-kindred. During the final days of the campaign to be the new Head of the Council, it was claimed that Pendragon met Merlin at a secluded area but the former never returned to his castle. He was never seen again and Merlin swore he never met Pendragon that day. It would have cost Merlin his votes for the rank, but the decision was agreed that without a rival candidate, Merlin was made the Head by default.

“We do not agree.” The voice belonged to a group of wizards and witches led by the Dark Queen. I stood by her side. It was natural then for Merlin was my enemy; the one who killed my father. “Merlin had yet to explain the disappearance of Utter Pendragon. Here is his cloak. Feel it, Merlin for it had your blood on it with that of Pendragon.”

The group was flanked by a flock of dragons with the flames seething through their nostrils.

“Dark Queen, how dare you create chaos at the appointment of Merlin...” Arthur led his allied knights to the fore in challenge for Merlin.

“Shut it, young cur. You cannot speak for one who had robbed you of your innocence.” The Dark Queen toned down the Knight. “You were taken off your mother’s teats when feeding to be moulded into what you are today; an obedient cur which will bark on his master’s command.”

“Dark Queen, you have insulted the Knights of the Round Table once too many…” Lancelot interjected but was cut off by the Queen.

“So the young son of mine had found a voice. Your first greeting towards me after so many years should had been more polite than those scathing words of dishonoured from son to mother.”

Lancelot looked away before the old man himself step forth to challenge the Queen.

“Anne, your spite on our son was uncalled for. He was ..” Merlin came into defence of Lancelot.

“Spare me your fatherly advice, Merlin. You were only good at spawning your legacies.” The Dark Queen lashed out with a dark wall but Merlin had anticipated it. He conjured up the wind that carried the toxic gas from the dark wall to the skies. Unfortunately a flock of geese had a sniff, and so the chefs were glad that day.

“Tell them, its foie gras for appetizer” Chef Ramsey re-wrote the menu in the kitchen. “Make it Dark Foie Gras. Consume at your own leisure.”

Meanwhile on the outside ground, Merlin was in a standoff against the Dark Queen. Their followers were backing them at the rear but none took to participate in the battle that was going on. It was the battle of mental energies released by the two masters. There was nothing that could be seen by the crowd except for two figures standing in upright position but behind the veil of the dimensions, an immense battle was ongoing. The streaks of white and dark energies were lashed out between them appearing like the strands of the string flair between them. The shades of the strings were of two, red and dark shades.

Merlin had the first hit on the Dark Queen when his red energy hit past her defence and struck at the Queen’s left shoulder. She went down on her knees in pain. The crowd saw the Queen fell but they also saw Lancelot had also screamed out in pain as if he was hit on the left shoulder. Merlin pulled back his attack and rushed towards the Queen.

“Spare not me your concern, Merlin. You ought to know the psychic link between us. You have exposed his one and only weakness to all.” The Dark Queen told the ex-lover. “You have hit your own son.”

“No!” Merlin called out and it was then with the distraction, the Dark Queen lashed out with her energy attack. The energies hit Merlin at his chest and threw him back. He laid there with only his elbows holding his frame from the ground.

“Damn you, bitch.” Merlin in his anger lashed out. His red energies flashed out like lightning towards the Dark Queen. She could not counter the onslaught and fell backwards. It was then a streak of red her at where the heart was. She screamed out in pain and was echoed by one other among the knights. Lancelot fell forward clutching his heart. His fellow knights held him but the young knight was dead.

“Merlin, you have damned your son to an early death. Lancelot is not invincible. He was our son.  He was protected to all except by his father. Your strike caused his pain.” The Dark Queen glared at him and yet she made no move to hold the dead knight. “Just when you hit me, he felt the same.”

“I am sorry, Anne.” The consoling words of Merlin were not heard by the Queen who had escaped on the chariot but I stood there. Her followers joined her leaving only Merlin and his knights there with one of their number gone. Merlin took the cloak and covered Lancelot with it. It was the only decent thing to do then. He then turned to look at me.

“Mordred, you have taken on the wrong side to fight for. I am disappointed in you.” Merlin glared at me. “I will not relinquished your Guardian role, but beware whom you may guard from now. It may be your foe or friend, but do you know who they really are.”

I did not reply him and walked away.