Arthur II Book II Chapter 7

 

7.

 

“I saw them. I had to behead them.” Lawnslot looked at Merlin. “The Immortuos rises again.”

“Hold off that thought.” Merlin got the message that the Ghost was back from the peasants. He had met the Ghost at the forest edge. The Ghost had refused to come to Castle Gurnion.

“I am not going there.” Lawnslot had declined to go. “I heard the Roman had taken over the place and placed the Welsh there. He is still a Roman lackey.”

“Arthur had made plans to march back to Camelot. He will nurse his health there.”

“Is he dying?’ Lawnslot asked.

“No more than you will be if you have fought off the hundreds he had.” Merlin defended the Roman and his heroic act. “He was surprised by …”

“Surprised? More like he was ambushed by the Anglo Saxon.” Lawnslot laughed. “I would not have walked into that trap.”

“Enough of you. And to your tale of the undead, I have seen the signs. There is more to the battles here. Witchery is at works and I fear I know who at the helm of it.”

“So, you believe in me.” Lawnslot smiled. “I am not mad some others may think.”

“No, you are not. All the more I need you here with us. Arondight…” Merlin was cut off by Lawnslot.

“Arondight is mine. None may wield it.” Lawnslot reached for the hilt of the sword. Merlin sighed at the gesture. He looked into the forest. He may consult the nymphs or the elves for advice. He smiled to himself at the thought. Many of the people he had met on all his wanderings, they have spoken of the hidden people of the forest but none had seen them. Well, he had on the few rare occasions when he wandered too deep or far into the forest. He had encountered those shy creatures and even sought their words on the local scenes. It was helpful to him to know the local area and it's more hidden offerings.

“Lancelot…” Merlin spoke up.

“Do not ever mention that name. It’s forbidden to …” Lawnslot was annoyed that his real name was called on.

“So, be it. I won’t call you that name. What I am to say is that I am searching the forest for your reply. Stay close and don’t wander off. I will be back.” With that Merlin took off into the forest to look for the signs of the hidden creatures. He took off on the unmarked trails looking for the signs that were unnoticed by the local peasants but few hunters may know. With the war, the hunters are rare to be seen, but soon, Merlin saw the first sign. He had prepared for the meet.

The yellow daffodil flower longed treasured by the locals as the flower worn on their heads on special occasions was seen an aplenty among the forest growths. It was then to trail the flowers to the stream. There, merlin paused in his search and waited. His wait was not long before the nymphs appeared at the flowers. The nymphs are precious small beings that resembled the dragonflies but they held the frame of the young ladies.

“Hello, there my dears,” Merlin whispered out. It was the low tone needed for the nymphs were shy of appearing to the others. There were a dozen of them and their reaction was flight or fight. They fought with the dispersion of the pollens at the druid but he had prepared himself for it. He had his face covered with his hands coated with the wild honey. The pollens stuck to the sticky honey and avoided being inhaled by Merlin.

“I bear no harm. I am Merlin the druid.” Merlin introduced himself. “I come to speak to you.”

The nymphs remained hidden behind the daffodils until Merlin brought out the fermented meads with the wild honey. He had the meads inside the earthen container.

“Join me on the feast.” Merlin offered the drink. It took a courageous nymph to appear and soon the entire colony was there to feed on the meads. Merlin let them have their feast before he spoke to them. He inquired about the forest and the land. He was told that they were upset at the men for marching through their forest and uprooting the growths. The Nymphs like the Elves are the guardians of the forest.

“Have you seen the witches?” Merlin asked plainly. It made the Nymphs fled into the cover of the flowers until Merlin coaxed them to come out again.

“You are not powerless against them,” Merlin spoke. He knew the hidden creatures were not powerless but they shunned from conflicts but if they are cornered, or threatened, they could fight back with their magic.

“We see the undead. You left so many in the forest, and it was only for the witches to pick on them. It’s an ancient spell long-hidden but it was there.” One of the Nymphs stood out and looked at Merlin. “Arondight destroyed it.”

Merlin knew the Nymphs knew a lot about the hidden dimensions but he was surprised that the sword Arondight was seen by them. He decided to ask them the question that was denied the answer to him.

“Have you seen Excalibur?” The mention of Excalibur got the Nymphs agitated and then they flew off leaving Merlin alone. He was once more denied the answer he sought. He stood up and was surprised by the voice that called him.

It was an Elf. Now the elves contrary to beliefs were more like the imps. Or was it the other way around? The Elf stood no higher than the blade of the grass and with the green shade complexion they blended in well with the growths. The elves are also able to change their shades with their surroundings.

“Hey, druid. You got anymore meads?” The elf stood there was ancient in the looks. “I am talking to you.”

“To whom am I to address.” Merlin turned to look at the elf.

“Ronin of Elfin. Now do you or not?” The Elf asked.

It was a long session of feasting with the Elf sharing his lifelong tales from time he was the apprentice to the clan at the forge to the battles with the dark ones. The Elves were by nature creators of the steel blades, and despite their diminutive figures, they could smelt a blade that no others could do. The sharpness of the blade was alike to the blade of the grass so thin it will slice on contact.

“The fable Excalibur? Yes, I was there.” Now with the Elves, you got to listened hard and harder still when their ego was in the subject. “It was a fine blade. Not like the one…”

“Excalibur?” Merlin pauses the Elf. “Here drink more.”

“Yes, Exacalinur…”

“Excalibur…” Merlin reminded the Elf.

“Yes, Excalibur it was. My father was there. He was with …”

“Aye, and where is the …” Merlin having to hurry the Elf.

“Aye, it was made for the mortals to slay the Gods. It was the time when the Gods were in conflicts and the realm decided that a blade was needed to … even the odds.” Ronin burped then. “God’s meads and good honey.”

“Excalibur?” Merlin whispered.

“Yes, Exacalinur…”

“Excalibur…” Merlin reminded the Elf once more.

“Yes, it was Exacalinur then. It was dire times when the Gods were in conflicts. Their battles soon involved the other dimensions. Many beings of mortal and even the immortals perished. The latter were either taken their gifts or banished to the other dimensions. The existing beings pleaded for peace but ignored. It was agreed on then for the war to end, the Gods must be dealt with force. A task was given to then create a weapon that will stop the war. The Elves were told to smelt the blade. They searched the metal that will make the blade that was never done before.”

“The search for the metal was wide and deep from the high mountains to the searing hot crevasses of the ground and even to the icy cold depths. The different metal was tried and used to battle the Gods. It may work on some but not all were defeated.”

“The dwarves, the goblins, the elves, the Nymphs, and even the Giants were consulted then. Even works of the Man were not discarded but none was found.”

“It was the ladies of the Lake who gave us the metal. It was down in the depths of the lake, and long had it remained there until the ladies told us. The ladies said it was a gift from the Gods themselves; sent hurling from the skies into the lake. Its location was unexplored for a long time for the water uncleansed. It was not a huge piece but we were out of options.”

“The metal was taken out and the works began. The first blade was made with the outer layer and it was named Arondight. There were two blades; three to be exact. The last one was never seen.” Ronin sighed. “The blades were then taken to battle the Gods.”

“It did not win but it stopped the war. For once, the Gods felt the wrath of its creations.”

“And peace reigned once more. Arondight was here last. So was ….”

“You mean Excalibur …. I meant Exacalinur is here too.” Merlin was getting excited.

“Let me lay down. I said Arondight.” Ronin released a huge burp but Merlin was insistent on the whereabouts of the other.

“Don’t you lay your hands on me? I will thrust my blade into you.” Ronin threatened the druid. “There is no Excalibur.”

“I don’t believe you. And an elf will never lie.” Merlin uttered the oath of the Elf.

“Yes, we won’t. The sword is yonder. Follow the stream till where the water seeps from the stone. There you will find the sword. But be careful for it’s guarded by the ladies. They have placed a veil over the sword.”

With that Ronin slipped into the grasses and was not seen and nor was the earthen container. Merlin smiled and tried to get up but found himself restrained to the ground.

“Merlin the druid. You are forbidden to go.” It was a familiar voice.