The Merlin Era: Weavers' Chronicles

Characters (as a list as there are A LOT):

Merlin, Morgana LeFaye, Queen Mab of the Faeries, Nimue the Lady of the Lake, Selwyn of the Wood Elves, Fally of the House Elves, Shelbeigh Winters, Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff, Grindelwald the Demon, King Arthur Pendragon, Galahad the Pure, Frick the Goblin, Leigh, Matthew Swordswind, Edward Delmar, Arista the Water Nymph, Stefan Purlee, Wisp Willows, Agrin’gar Amatha, Jonathan Weasley, Nathan Potter, Allen Malfoy, Halcyon the Warlock, Anna Sadow, Andrew Sadow…more characters to come (list subject to change).

Prologue – A Prelude to the Storm

The wind howled through the darkened landscape of Northern England near the borders of the Saxons and the raiding army of Uther Pendrag were restless.  Horses pawed at the ground, restless for a battle to be held.  The bowmen with their arrows shook as they tried to suppress the shivers of the biting winter cold of England.

“Only a little more men,” Uther spoke, his deep bass voice was full of humor and less care.  He knew what was at stake, but he didn’t care.  No, all he wanted was the crown…and if his men died trying to give it to him, so be it.  After all, he had wizards on his side.  “Merlin, do tell me, is Vortigen going to be coming any time soon?” he tilted his head slightly to a youngish looking person on top of a dapple-grey horse.

The person sitting next to Uther wasn’t what you expect of the famous wizard Merlin.  In fact, he looked more like an ordinary soldier or commoner.  No robes, no pointed hat, nothing to show that he was a wizard.  Not even a wand since they didn’t use wands back then and could control their magicks by hand and thought.  He was wearing a mottled assortment of dark feathers over a fur coat, keeping him warm, and on top of his head was a head-fitting helmet.  This was the legendary Merlin, only in his mid forties and by now, one of the most feared wizards.

Merlin shook his head, “Patience Uther.  Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.  Vortigen will come…and you will win.”

“Good, good,” Uther rubbed his hand gleefully, a broad smile appearing on his thin pale face.

“Sir!  Messenger!” one of the men in the field called out and Merlin looked to see someone riding on a black horse, a particular horse he was very, very familiar with.  A horse whose breath enticed steam and had blood-red eyes.  The rider was someone also familiar and Merlin felt a hitch in his stomach.  Of all the times…he should have expected her to come and meddle…come and save Vortigen…

“I bring you a message from King Vortigen,” her raspy voice was harsh and some of the men closest to her covered their ears against her grating voice.

Merlin frowned staring at the willowy raven-haired form of Queen Mab, Queen of the Faeries.  She wore a loose flowing dress, but one that shimmered a grey-silver.  Her hands were artfully decorated with gemstones and her eyes covered with deep colors of black and grey that made her bright green eyes stand out against the contrasting paleness of her face.

“Don’t keep us waiting Mab,” Merlin replied, bringing the Mab’s eyes on him.  The sorceress only stared at him with what he deemed a malevolent stare but he shrugged in reply.  If she wanted a duel with him at the moment, he would just take her on.  Of course that meant that Uther would be free to charge at Vortigen while Mab was distracted.

“The King wishes that you reconsider your objective and sign and oath of allegiance,” Mab spoke, one hand waving in the air and a tendril of bluish smoke wisped into a parchment with a blue quill.

Uther laughed harshly and Merlin stared at the man with a raised eyebrow.  He hoped that he had chosen a good king to rule over England, but now…he wasn’t too sure at the moment.  It seemed like Uther didn’t really care for his people, but at least was marginally better than Vortigen who was currently on the throne.

“Me?  Reconsider?” Uther laughed again, “my dear Queen of the Faeries…please tell you pet Vortigen that I…Uther Pendrag, rightful heir of the throne, will fight him to the bloody death!”

“Is that your final wish?” Mab narrowed her green eyes into slits.

“Go now…shoo,” Uther waved a careless hand and Mab nodded once.

“So be it, Uther.  Your reign shall start in blood and will end in blood.  You will eventually go insane and you will fall on your own sword in battle,” Mab turned, the parchment and quill vanish with a poof but suddenly turned and once again fixed Merlin with her green eyes.

“Be warned Merlin.  We the Seven Sins of Mortals will triumph.  This is only the beginning,” Mab hissed at him then suddenly heeled her horse and it charged away.

“Quite lovely, isn’t she Merlin?” Uther smiled in an odd way and Merlin stared at the future king.

“Yes,” he agreed sarcastically, “quite the basilisk.”  He suddenly turned his horse, and waved a hand in Uther’s face, making the man snap out of whatever stupor he was in, “I will be leaving you now.  This is your battle that I cannot interfere.”

“Oh…” Uther replied then turned to his second-in-command who had tapped his shoulder.

Merlin heeled his horse and did not look back to see the preparations of the upcoming battle.  He already knew what the outcome was, as Mab was the decider of this battle.  There would be another time for him to confront her, to stop her.  Now, the Weavers Council expected a report and he was going to give it to them.  “Rupert, take us home.”

His horse neighed and started a gallop, taking Merlin away from the battlefield and to the Elvesgrove Hollow…

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