The Ancient One (Updating Mon, Wed and Fri)

Chapter Two

    “My name is Merlin.” After seeing Phoenix relax very slightly, knowing that he was not as much of a threat at the moment, he carefully extended his hand. “The rumors of a wolf girl training as a men are true.” He whispered. Phoenix stiffened again and growled.

    “Rumors?” Her voice was hoarse and she gripped the hilt tighter, preparing to pull it from its sheath before Matthew grabbed her hand.

    “You said you are the Prince’s advisor and messenger. Where is your proof of this?” He said in a low, threatening voice. Merlin gulped slightly. He wasn’t anticipating his trip would be met with so much… potential violence. He slowly reached down towards his pack to pull out a scroll, slowly standing to walk towards the group but was met with a threatening growl from both Phoenix and Rookewood who had shifted into a large Dire Wolf. He gasped before dropping the scroll on the ground and backing away. Why was a man with such an immense amount of magic ability so scared of the small group? Unless…

    He does not know just how powerful he is. He doesn’t understand his abilities. Rookewood’s voice came through Phoenix’s mind. Phoenix grunted in response.

    I do not know that I entirely believe or agree with that, but it does appear as though he is trying to be peaceful.

    Pacifist maybe? Rooke growled softly as Matthew picked up the scroll. Phoenix snorted slightly at Rooke’s comment.

    Doubtful. He would be living in the forest as a Druid, not in the middle of danger central Camelot. Especially as a royal advisor of all things.

    What do the two of you think? Matthew’s consciousness enters Phoenix’s.

    No imminent danger. He either does not know how powerful he is, does not know how to use his powers… or according to Rooke is a pacifist. Phoenix rolled her eyes at the last one.

    “Alright, your papers are legitimate.” Matthew walked to Merlin and helps him stand, handing the scroll back. Phoenix maintained a tight expression, thinking about the rumors he mentioned and what they could mean for her. Merlin noticed and his eyes widened.

    “My lady,” He bowed to her causing her to shift uncomfortably. “There are rumors in the magical world, not the ordinary world. I beg of you to relax, I did not intend for my words to cause such unease.” He said. Phoenix did relax ever so slightly at his words. They had worked way too hard to keep her hidden from unwanted attention that the thought of rumors spreading put her greatly on edge.

    “Where have these rumors come from? How have you heard them? How do we know that they are not going to attack us the moment we arrive in Camelot?” Matthew went to stand behind Phoenix, putting his hands on her shoulders. His six and a half foot figure could easily see over her head.

    “The Great Dragon. Among others.” He answered.

    “Why did the Prince send you to scout ahead? Why did he not send an average messenger over his advisor?” Jonathan asked warily. Merlin shifted uneasily, unsure of whether he should answer the question. Deciding he needed to gain all the trust he could he decided to be honest.

    “Because the Prince will be coming within the next three days to retrieve the three of you.” He said quietly. Phoenix gritted her teeth and dug her nails into the palms of her hands.

    “Why?” Was all she could muster. Did the King not trust the three of them to arrive at Camelot with the usual guards that were sent out there?

    “He has heard that the three of you are some of the best that this village has ever produced and he wanted to come see for himself before you got to Camelot. When the Prince makes decisions like this, I make ensure I speak to the Great Dragon to ensure that it is safe for him to come. That is when he told me what would be happening. He told me you needed to be protected and it needed to be ensured that you would arrive at Camelot. Knowing you are not only a magical creature but also a woman, he sent me here with some ideas of how to ensure the Prince brings all three of you back.” He said all of this very quickly and nervously. “I want to assist in hiding your identity on our travels. There are a few spells that can make you look like a man.” He began.

    “No. If the Prince sees that I am a woman and refuses to bring me with him, I will challenge him to a duel. I only need your assistance in helping me look like a mortal.” She said before turning. “Come.” She began walking towards their home, not looking back to see if the others are following. “We can discuss this more in the comfort of our home.” Rookewood walked beside her. Matthew looked at the other two before they all followed.

    When they got to the home, MaryAnn, the boys mother, smiled warmly before taking in Phoenix’s appearance and mood. “What happened, dear?” She asked before hugging Phoenix gently. Phoenix hugged her back before shaking her head.

    “A lot of unexpected things are happening. Prince Ar-“

    “Prince Arthur is going to be coming within the next few days to see if we truly are as good as they say we are.” Matthew interrupted. MaryAnn nodded and her eyes widened. She had been told the three would be going to Camelot, she had simply been told to not say anything to the group. She did not know that the Prince himself would be coming though. Her eyes fell on Merlin.

    “Ah, this must be how we learned of this information, please sir, make yourself at home.” MaryAnn curtsied and nodded her head at Merlin, who bowed in response. “I am MaryAnn, the boys mother and Phoenix’s adopted mother.” Merlin smiled and nodded.

    “I am Merlin, advisor to Prince Arthur.” He responded before looking to the other three. Phoenix watched the interaction before feeling the urge to run. She quickly excused herself and rushed to her room, grabbing clean clothes and putting them on. Before anyone could ask where she was going, she had left towards the barn. Merlin moved to follow but Jonathan put an arm in front of him, preventing him from going forward and Matthew shook his head before following after Phoenix. The sun was beginning to set as he made his way to the barn.

    Merlin looked to Jonathan curiously. “She gets overwhelmed. Understandably so,” He began. MaryAnn looked out the door and nodded.

    “She’s the last of her kind and she is so very young compared to the others who are now gone. She is merely a child in her culture.” She said. Merlin stiffened and his eyes widened.

    “Last of her kind?” He whispered. MaryAnn nodded.

    “She is from a race known as the Ancient Ones.” She started and Merlin perked up. “I take it you know of them?” Merlin nodded and MaryAnn continued. “Her parents were very close and very dear to me. They knew their time was short when they brought her to us as a baby. She was so small, only a few months old.” MaryAnn began to get choked up as she held back tears. “To have to leave your newborn babe, knowing you and everyone else of your kind were to parish or at the very least disappear and potentially never see your baby again… I don’t know that I would have the kind of strength and courage they did…” she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Which is why we have kept her hidden. We do not want the beings that killed her kind to find out where she is or what she is.”

    Merlin nodded and looked at the ground. “I cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like to live with that as you go through life.” He whispered.

    Phoenix hugged her knees close to her chest as she looked at the darkening clouds in the sky, doing her best to hold in her emotions and the tears that threatened to spill over. Why now? Why did tonight have to be a night she was beginning to feel overwhelmed. Her birthday was tomorrow. It wasn’t fair. Her nails grew to two inch claws that dug into the barn roof. Rooke? She called out in her mind. Not a moment later Rookewood had flown up to her in the form of a barn owl. A moment later, Matthew had climbed onto the roof of the barn as well. Phoenix sighed and looked down, closing her eyes.

    “Seeing Merlin… hearing that there are rumors about me… Tis unnerving. What if the wrong being hears about me and knows what I am?” She whispered before looking up to see Matthew simply nodding.

    “There were bound to be rumors in the magical world sooner or later.” Rookewood shifted into a red fox and curled up on Phoenix’s lap.

    “But… if Het Dares hear the rumors.” She states again. Matthew looked at her visibly shaken form and takes her hand.

    “That will not happen. Even if it does, we will be okay.” He replied. Phoenix scoffed and rolled her eyes, pulling her hand away.

    “You and Jonathan will be.” She spat bitterly. “You aren’t the last of your kind with a race that was created to destroy your race looking for you.”

    “You don’t know that they are still looking for you.” Matthew said calmly. “And even if they are, we will be right by your side to help-“

    “Absolutely not.” Phoenix hissed, causing Matthew to jump in surprise. She looked up at him with a look he could only describe as anger and fear at the same time.

    “What do you mean?” He frowned deeply.

    “What do I mean?! I mean you will not put yourselves in danger for my sake!”

    “We absolutely are!” Matthew shouted. He felt awful for arguing like this with her on the night she turns eighteen. They should be celebrating. The two had never really fought like this before. Phoenix felt angry tears welling up in her eyes. Why could they not just leave it alone?! Why couldn’t they just accept her decision and choose to keep themselves safe when the time came? “Phoenix, you mean the world to us, to me!” His voice cracked and gave way to the emotions he was truly feeling when he said to me. His heart was breaking. “Do you really think we would be able to sit idly by knowing we would never get to see you again? In two days we will be leaving for Camelot. Together. We will continue training. Together. And we will stay alive. To-geth-ther.” He finished. The tears began to fall as Phoenix looked to the sky again and shook her head.

    “I just want the two of you to live long, happy lives.” She whispered. Matthew shook his head and gently held her chin, bringing it down so she had to look into his eyes.

    “I don’t know about Jonathan, but I do not want a long, happy life without you, Teraldan. So you had better stop coming up with ideas in which you are the solo hero and start coming up with ideas in which we work together to rid the world of those damned Riders.” He continued to force her to stare into his eyes. He wasn’t going to take no for an answer. She had no choice but to sigh and agree, defeatedly. There was no way in hell she was going to allow them to actually help, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. This was not a mortal’s problem.

    After a few moments of sitting in silence, Jonathan came out to the barn. Merlin followed him like a lost puppy. “Supper is ready!” Jonathan yelled before turning and leaving.

    “You ready?” Matthew asked. Phoenix nodded.

    “I’ll survive. Nothing I cannot handle.” She tried to give a soft smile before standing to climb off the roof. “Come, we would not want to keep mother and father waiting.”