Chapter Five

Ten Years 

Year One: 

Merlin slammed the door to his small bedroom, flinging himself onto the bed. He knew Blaise wouldn’t be far behind, and later he would feel embarrassed by his outburst, but right now he was just so angry. 

There was a soft knock on the door before it opened and shut once again. “Well, that was exciting.” Blaise said quietly. 

Merlin took a deep breath and turned to sit, keeping his eyes on the floor. “Sorry, Master.” 

Blaise sat down next to Merlin and waited for him to meet his eyes. Merlin did, there was no anger behind his masters eyes, only the calm he had grown used to. 

“Emotion isn’t something to be trapped inside of you, Merlin. And it isn’t something to be ashamed of. Your emotions tie directly to your magic. You must learn to control your outbursts thought, Merlin. You are young and your emotions sit on the surface of your skin. Let them sink down into your core, let them fuel you quietly deep below the surface, Merlin.”

Merlin huffed and rubbed at his eyes, it was incredibly childish of him, but he was so tired. “I don’t know how to do that.” He said quietly. “I just feel so lost all the time.”

Blaise nodded and stood, his old bones creaking as he did so. “That isn’t surprising, Merlin. You are missing the life you used to have. You will learn to appreciate life in all of its walks one day.” He reached into his pocket. “By the way, you have a letter.” 

Merlin reached for it and opened it quickly. 

“I’ll leave you to it.” Blaise walked away, shutting the door to Merlin’s small bedroom once again. 

Merlin,

I hope your training is going well. My training has been difficult and painful. I feel as though I am always out of step these days. Perhaps what they were right when they said we needed to learn how to be separate from each other. But I cannot help but find myself missing our antics. The King says I must learn to put aside my childish ways, and I am trying. I hope where your journey has led you that you are happy. 

Arthur 

Year Five: 

Merlin walked the grounds, the mud squelching underneath his boots. It had been raining nonstop for weeks now. The Master informed them this meant the sky was revealing her secrets to them, all they had to do was listen. Merlin loved the rain, it felt far more pure than anything else. He felt clear in the rain. 

“Merlin!” a young page called to him. 

Merlin turned to see the child running, holding his robes up from getting soaked. 

“Merlin, I bring news from Camelot.” He held out a folded letter which Merlin took immediately. “Sorry it got wet,” 

Merlin pulled his hand backwards and the water followed from the pages as he walked slowly to shelter of the monastary. He opened the letter, his stomach immediately falling. 

“What is it?” The pageboy asked. 

“The King has died.” Merlin said slowly. “The Crown Prince will now become King.” 

“I’ve heard loads about the Crown Prince. Did you know he was a pauper, a street urchin who was destined to pull Excalibur from its stone prison.” 

Merlin nodded slowly. “Sorry Fin, I must retire to my chamber.” He walked away, trying his best to keep an equal gate. He opened the door to his small chamber and sat at his desk, pulling out a scroll and ink. 

Arthur, 

I was saddened to hear word of the King’s death. I know that he treated you like his own child. You are ready to become King. I have faith in you and all that you are destined for. 

Merlin 

Merlin opened the small cage for his falcon and tied the letter to her claw. He pet her lovingly before she hopped onto his arms. “Take it to him, Ceres.” He watched the falcon take flight, her silver wings glittering against the rain. 

Merlin took a slow breath in and felt his pain only for a moment. Arthur, if he focused hard enough he could almost see him. How he was now, tall and strong. Merlin wondered if Arthur could feel him there. 

Year Eight: 

The letters had waned until they had slowly come to a halt all together. Camelot was in war and Merlin spent far too much time worrying about Arthur. The knights of Camelot were strong with Arthur at their head, but the war was brutal. Merlin had known that the start of the dark age would come in the way of a war with neighboring nations. This was just the start of the darkness that was coming, this was just the beginning of their intertwined destinies. 

Merlin was honing his craft far faster than even the masters had expected. He thought back to when he first came to the monastary, scared and unsure of himself. He was looked down on then, by the other warlocks and by the masters. He knew then that so many questioned him. Now he was more powerful than any other soul at the monastary. 

He stepped into the Great Hall to see the masters all speaking quietly to one another. Blaise stopped and turned towards Merlin when he entered, the others all silenced as well. 

“Merlin, there has been an attack on Camelot.” Blaise said slowly.

Merlin could feel the urge to panic clawing at his insides. He swallowed slowly and met Blaise’s eyes. “Arthur?” 

“He has been injured, he will live.” Blaise said taking a step forward.  “The attacker was not human, it was a demon from the underworld, acting on a masters call.” 

“So it’s beginning.” Merlin said slowly. 

“Yes, it is beginning.” Blaise agreed. “It is time for your training to begin with earnest.” 

“Master?” 

They were all silent for a long while before nodding amongst each other. “Take him down to the caves.” 

The masters all escorted Merlin down deep into the catacombs until there was nowhere further to go. “You will have a new master now, Merlin.” Blaise said slowly. 

He pressed his hand to the catacomb walls and it disintegrated quickly. “I wish you well, young one.” 

“Master, I don’t understand.” Merlin said.

“Don’t meet his eye until he allows it. Don’t speak unless he demands it. Don’t questions his methods.” Blaise reached up and squeezed Merlin’s shoulder. “Good luck, dear child.” 

Merlin nodded and summoned a small flame to his hand as he stepped into the darkness of the caves. Immediately the wall to the catacomb shut once again. He turned to look and touched the wall himself, it would not open again until he was ready. He turned again and began descending deep into the cave. It was cold, his robes did little to warm him the far below the surface. 

He heard the heavy breathing of something very large. He steeled his fear and stepped further. 

“Who enters my domain?” An ancient language asked of him. 

Merlin took a breath in. “I am Merlin.”

“Ah… the Great Sorcerer I prophesied has finally come to me.” The ancient voice said. 

Merlin stepped further into the cave and held his breath to keep from screaming. Merlin had never seen a dragon before, they were something of myth. They had all died a millennia ago, or so everyone thought. 

“You’re afraid Great Sorcerer.” The dragon said.

“I am.” Merlin admitted.

He thought the dragon may have laughed. “That’s good. You should be. You are mine now. I am called Ezorread. I am your true master, Merlin child of the Dragon. Answer me.”

“Yes Master.” Merlin fell to his knees in submission. “I live to serve and learn from you Master Ezorread.” 

“Very good. You are ready.” Ezorread said before flying up and breathing fire all around Merlin. “Your training begins now.” 

Year Ten: 

Merlin spent two years in the caves with Ezorread. He learned many things from the ancient creature. He had learned every small detail about the prophecy that had intertwined he and Arthur before either of them were born. They had been prophecied to be together from birth, so they were. Ezorread had sensed the moment they were born and knew their names and their entire lives. He would never speak of how the prophecy would end to Merlin, and Merlin would never ask. He was scared of knowing. 

It wasn’t until his last days with Ezorread that he was allowed to look upon the dragon. 

“Meet my eyes, child of Dragon.” Ezorread breathed in his ancient language. “Look upon me and know me.” 

Merlin slowly raised his eyes to look into the ancient creatures eyes. They were endless. Merlin could see galaxies and worlds in his eyes. He couldn’t catch his breath at the knowledge that was flowing into him like an ocean flows into a small stream. 

He screamed and fell to his knees. It was painful to know Ezorread. 

“Knowledge is painful, Child of Dragon. But it is your pain to bare. Stand and meet my eyes once again. Let me look on you once more. For we will not meet again in this life.” 

Merlin stood and met eyes with the dragon again. It was beautiful and terrifying. 

“Merlin, your destiny is great.Your steps on this Earth will change the future forever. When you touch The child of lions you will strengthen him. When you touch his sword he will not fail. I forged Excalibur with my own scales and breath. It is meant for the Child of Lions.” 

Ezorread screamed, a sound that was deafening as he forged a new weapon. “This is Trinity the CloudScorcher. This weapon is forged for you, Child of Dragon. No one else must ever wield it. Their hands will burn. Only you, child raised in fire can wield this weapon.” 

Merlin reached for the staff, it was cool in his hand. He could feel its magic climb up his arm and through him. 

“With Trinity the CloudScorcher and Excalibur, you will always be victorious. Together you are like wind and fire, your power will spread.” 

“Thank you Master.” Merlin met the dragons eyes once again, to look on their beauty. 

“Leave now, Merlin. Leave for Camelot. Leave for your destiny.” The dragon said. “Do not forget my name.” 

The dragon flew deep into the caves and he was gone. Merlin could feel heavy tears fall from his eyes as he watched the dragon soar through his domain. Eventually he turned. It was pitch black but Merlin no longer needed his eyes to see. Ezorread had gifted him with the eyes of the dragon upon meeting each other’s eyes. Merlin could now see everything. He could see how every possible scenario could play out. He could feel the power of the dragon flowing through him. He could feel everything.