Forged Hope: The Binding

[Sweetp4u]

A Chapter in History:

Characters:

Merlyn- Oldest and wisest of the wizards

Gwendolyn- mother of Corbin, A wizard as well

Mongrel- Wizard, second to Merlyn in Knowledge and mastery

Arlic- the youngest wizard of the 4, knowledgeable but still a little insistant and loud.


A closed chapter for Poohlive and Myself before moving on to the final ending. Unless someone feels they can really add to this chapter, then you can 'sell' yourself to pooh and I Show us what you got? This is merely a part to a bigger whole that needed explained without swamping over the last chapter in the "Family" trilogy. lol Enjoy the tale.

IC:


Arlic

He stood at the side of the great table, his eyes smoldering with fury and concern. His fist came down hard on the table, causing the ale and bread to jump slightly, knocking over a small candle in the process.
"We have to do something!" He pounded again, his eyes fleeting between the elders around him. First to Mongrel, then across to Gwendolyn and finally they settled on Merlyn's eyes.
"The evil is coming, it is surrounding and taking strong holds into this earth and destorying all around us!" His hands shot into the air as he stormed loudly in his rage.
"Careful Arlic, you stir the skies with your temper and upset the balance of nature.." Gwendolyn spoke up, chiding gently as she cradled young Corbin on her lap.
"What Do I care?!" He shouted again.
"Great armies have fallen to this unnamed threat! Countries are slowly dying as their lands turn putrid and refuse to grow! Cattle and oxen die in the middle of the night as this 'Black Rider' races by. Great forests are laid low under his powers! We have an enemy we must... must prepare for!" He began to pace back and forth, his hands clenched tightly as he tried to calm himself. Merlyn sighed heavily, his own face weary and showing signs of concern. They all were worried, they all had the knowledge to stop it, but who and what was this threat?
"We must think of something, to stop this evil and to protect ourselves. Rumor is this demon is seeking out the magic of the world and destorying those more powerful than he himself is.."
"Those are just rumors, no more." again Gwendolyn spoke up as he patted her son's back.
"We know there is something out there Arlic, we just have no found it yet.." She fell silent, watching Merlyn's face twist a little as he stared off for a moment.

 

[poohlive]

His clear blue eyes scanned each of them. Worry and confusion on their faces. The threat had touched them all, threatened their very lives. He knew why this was called, had been expecting it from the beginning, and now that it was here, he had been nowhere close than anyone else in finding an answer.
Mongrel nodded his head.
"The evil, we do not know it's power, it's strength, or it's true purpose. It scowers the land in search for something, greed? power? magic? It has so far killed human, vampire, and wizard alike. Have you not forgotten Gragon? A mighty mage in his own right, taken down without so much as a fight. If this power can do that, think of what he could do to any of us, alone or together."
He hated to speak all of these doubts aloud, hating hearing them ring in his own ears, fear taking over as he spoke. A magician had learned not to fear anything a long time ago, but times had evolved, evil has evolved, and now he sits, shivering with the others, unable to understand it all, but knowing something must be done.
"I know none of us want to hear it, but I think there is something we can do. A power, that hence before has not yet come to being. It is in legend, legend within legend, an unpracticed art that I think, could aid us in this time of peril."
Before he said it, he looked to Merlyn. The old man's eyes knew what he would propose. It was in the back of his mind as well. A variable force that even the strongest of the strong could barely deal with. Merlyn shook his head, just enogh so Mongrel could make it out.
He knew, but at this point there was no other choice... none that he could see.
"I propose we make a binding. The spells each of us know, put together inside one book, one scroll of power, once forged, could very well take down this power and send it running from our shores. All of our strength will pour into it, our power, it will be as if we are one, fighting against the creature, we can..."
Merlyn cleared his throat, leaving Mongrel to stop in mid sentence, " We know if its power and potential. You are not the only one to spend hours going over ancient scrolls to help us in this time. Mongrel, that is a last effort, a truly last one. The power we release will be more dangerous than the evil..."
"But we can control that power."
Merlyn slammed his fist against the table, "Control it? No one can control it. It is too powerful, its greed offers up too much for anyone to easily dismiss it. That will be discussed, but later Mongrel... Later!?"
With a sigh of defeat, not only for his argument, but for them all, he leaned back in his chair, curious as to any other offers.
"Tell us, then, Merlyn, what plan do you have to end this tyranny?"
Merlyn gave Mongrel an ugly look, but said nothing. He stayed still as well, looking over at Gwendolyn.
"My love, what do you have to offer?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Gwendolyn

I sat listening quietly, my turn would come to voice concerns and ideas. Mongrel was right about a few things but Merlyn knew better the dangers of such bindings.
I turned to meet his gaze, watching his eyes. He was weary and worried as well but controlling himself properly.
"Corbin, Go with nanna Ari." I set my son down and pushed him towards the door. He did not need to hear all of this. And once he left the room and sat up straight and looked at each one of them in turn.
"We need not be hasty in anything we decide to do about this unknown threat. For all we know this enemy could absorb magic and become stronger. This evil could have been forged by another binding, we are too unclear as of now. We need the 'witch'." So many worries in my head, so many concerns that just over flowed in my mind. "We have to know where this enemy is, his purpose..... If we are to defeat him, we also need his weaknesses.... Of her's.."
Arlic slumped down into his chair and grumbled, "But I wed in but a few days, I can not journey to her if I am stuck here!" He scowled darkly, hating to be parted from the one companion he had found on this earth that fit so perfectly.
"You can not go out there alone Arlic, your life would be in forfeiture. Bring her to you if you must. A wedding is the last thing that should be on your mind right now young on." I glanced sternly at him, wondering what selfishness inside had we not seen before?
"A binding is as Merlyn said, too dangerous... In the wrong hands, too powerful for most.. Imagine the worst conditions of this planet and tripple it. Imagine not being able to think for yourself? someone else can just arrive and control your thoughts and actions. There is more to binding than just a few spells. With the binding the power grows, the book its self becomes a teacher for newer, darker things... No matter the content, if we make a binding to protect ourselves, we must use every caution we can." I fell silent having no more to say at this point. I reached out and took Merlyn's hand in my own under the table, strong and warm, It helped only a little to ease these fears.

 

[poohlive]

They were the last, the strongest, and the most stuck up. He had known that from the beginning. The only reason each of them sat before him know was that he knew their opinions differed from his own. Great power does not come from hearing agreedments, but arguments.
"Nothing will be decided this date," he said, his word final on the subject, "Arlic, I apologize for your misfortune, but no chances need to be taken. I want you to leave with Mongrel, scower the country, old libraries, anything you can find about this evil and what, if any weaknesses it has. This is research only, I expect you to be back within the next few days. After that, Gwendolyn and I will have spoken with the witch, and we will all come to an agreement."
He looked back at his love, unsure of himself, but confident enough to know this was the best action for now. Nothing rash, not yet. Their lives were in danger, but even this could wait. The greatest of wizards perished with one small mistake, and he hoped never to make that.
Mongrel muttered under his breath, the doubts and the waiting, but said nothing. He nodded, agreeing with the situation for the moment. Merlyn smiled back, glad to be rid of him for a few days, the both of them actually. Damn kids, always talking as if they had something important to say.
He squeezed back.
"Nightfall, three days from now, we meet back here with whatever information we have, and something will be done."
He rose, still holding Gwendolyn's hand, he led her away from the group, wanting to speak with her in private.

"So," Mongrel rose from his seat, already intent on riding to the next city. There were scrolls he wanted to check, ancient transcripts he felt comfortable in exploring before the days length wore on.
"Arlic, is it? You do seem passionate about all of this, you think you can take on this mysterious force?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Arlic

He stood from the table, nodding in agreement with Merlyn's wishes. He would like to argue the urgency of stopping this spreading chaos and disease amoung the land, but knew Merlyn was far wiser than he was. It was best not to irritate the wizard. He watched as they left and turned to Mongrel, a snear on his face he grumbled, "No I know I can not face this alone.. But together.. All four of us could take that evil and banish it.... if only...." He growled in irritation and moved from the table, "never mind. Good Journey to you Mongrel.." He grabbed his bag and robe, throwing them on as he quickly vacated the old castle. Walking briskly to his stallion, he climbed on and looked to the horizone. He just hoped they weren't too late when the final show down came....

Gwendolyn

So many worries, so many things hanging in the balances around us all, I had little I could say in way of advice. I knew their worries, I could hear the villagers crying late into the night. So many hopes dashed, so many wandering in despair and upset. I felt for them, for us all. I trusted Merlyn to know what was best and how to approach the evil, I would never take another side over his. My hand squeezed his just a little tighter as we stood and exited the room.
I wondered what he wished to speak with me about? What troubles worried him more? The evil or the wizards in the room?
The witch would be the best clue to this problem, she could see into the future, she knew better than anyone what was to come. Though it was always vague, faceless troubles, she knew when to expect them and if they were avoidable.
"What would you like to speak with me about Love?" We stood in a darkened corner of the tower, hands still locked as he gazed off again.

 

[poohlive]

Mongrel wasted no time. He was off on his own hunt, one that didn't consist of anything more than his own research. Power upon power would build within the forces, and if he had anything to do with it, his own mark would be made in the binding.
It would happen.
Merlyn, both wise and foolish, can't afford to ass up such a weapon. He would never even dream of defeating the dark master himself, or with that little sex slave of his. They both would sacrifice too much, even though they might truly win in the end.
The ultimate power await, if he could only find the key. He didn't need the spell itself, that would come with the binding, he just needed the tool in which to summon it. No matter what, it would be completed within the book, and the power would be consumed within the force.
His force.
He rode into the night, towards a deserted city, where anciesnt scrolls were lying await, ready for him. Somewhere, inside one of the parchments, and ancient power lay dormant, waiting for a fusion of magic to bring it to life.


Merlyn reached his own private room. A small place, lined with books, and several comfortable reading chairs. Not much light came from the outside, but enough candles flowered the place for them both to see.
"Personally, I just wanted those two windbags to calm down for a little bit. They are both so hot headed, seeking answers right now. I thought if I gave them something to do, it would give us some more time to think."
He wanted to add words, but they would not come. At this point in time he had nothing. A truly powerful wizard, with almost limitless amounts of knowledge at his fingertips, and this dark presence has swooped through their country like a plague, boggling the mind of man, gathering the fear of vampire, and all but killing the last of the wizards.
Each day stories came of a wizards death. Something took them all down, any and every person who could weild magic had been slain with little effort from their enemy. Merlyn, with his vast knowledge, was useless to stop them.
"I just want to hear from you that I am doing my best. It doesn't seem like it at times. I feel as if everyone looks to me to stop this, but I don't know if I alone have the power. This came from out of thin air, and now it threatens all of us. I just don't know..."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Gwedolyn

"We are doing all we can Love, you know you are as well.. Do not blame yourself for the evils of another.." I moved up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, holding him to me. Silent for a long time, I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself a little.
"A binding might be the only way my Love... Combining our powers might be the only thing we can do.. but whom ever takes that power to stop the evil will be so powerful... We must make sure only you or I uses it if we do.. In the wrong hands.." I shuddered a little, terrified of what would come if something evil held the powers of the four of us.
"I see no other way Love..." I paused again feeling him tense up. I knew he did not want this, I did not want this either. "Perhaps they will find something of use?" We could only hope this would be true. I thought of my son, a vampire's son, I had been trying to cure him for so long... Now I had to worry for his life instead!
I moved back from Merlyn and around him. Taking his face into my hands, my eyes sought out his and held them.
"We have to do whatever it takes.. It is hunting us, all of us.. And I don't want to lose you or Corbin." I kissed him tenderly and then hugged him to me. I was a strong woman, I would not lose my composure, but it was becoming difficult lately with all the fears surmounting around us.
"We best locate the witch and summon her my Love.." I did not let go, the comforting hug was helping us both.

 

[poohlive]

Ease came to him, but it did not help the pain still hovering over his heart. In his old age, he had never been scared of anything before, not for his own safety, not for his very life. This had struck him deep, hurting him more than any mortal wound could attempt.
His very morality on the line, his soul.
His hands found hers, and he held onto her, an old lover, a new. Her kiss war, and inviting. Had he more time, he might have taken up the offer.
"Sir."
Merlyn broke away, looking back at the door. A young man stood there, his demeanor showed of news to come, but he held himself back, unable to fully come into the room. The poor boy, he had yet to gather much strength.
"Willow, come in, speak."
Willow stepped into the room, as far as he dare. His eyes unable to meet any of theirs, "It is about the witch. We have located her sir. She is in a nearby city, along with a caravan of gypsies. She said she would be waiting for you."
Merlyn nodded. He knew the witch would contact them soon enough. There was hardly any meeting, no matter how secretive, that she didn't know of in one way or another. The woman had powers that made him look like a fledgling.
"Are you up for a ride, my love? Willow, prepare the carriage, we leave within the hour."
Willow left before Merlyn had finished talking.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Arlic

He rode across the lands, looking for the greater cathedrals, the ones which held the scripts and scrolls of the old and wise. He'd have better luck there, in their libraries the walls were covered in books that dealt with this sort of thing.
He shivered a little, feeling as if something was watching him, but knew it was his mind playing tricks on him..

Gwendolynn

Stepping back, I smiled a warm welcome at the young Willow, but he would never met my gaze? Turning I retrieved my wrap and nodded my head, "Yes, let's depart.." I had no more thoughts of comforting anyone, instead my mind was mulling over all the things I knew, and how best I could put them to use?
Climbing into the carriage, I rode along totally lost in thought. Pausing I glanced around, "Where are the guardsmen?" Wondering if he decided we did not beed protection, or if there was a purpose other than stealth and speed for going alone?

 

[poohlive]

"You do worry too much, young one, come..." He moved net to her, wrapping and arm around her. Her head found his shoulder soon enough, and he enjoyed the trip nestled next to her.
"The witch does not like company, especially on such high priorities. She asked that we only bring the necessities. It is just you, me, of course, and Willow is driving. Everyone else is back at the castle waiting and preparing."
He rested his head on hers, letting out a big sigh. The trip here had been long and hard, and he did not enjoy each step. Death and destruction followed them, and more layed out in the horizon. As the bumpy ride went on , past forests and meadowed trails, through countryside, around smaller villages, he couldn't help but feel a little better. No matter what the news, the witch would help them.
This threat would not consume earth for much longer, not so long as he had anything to do with it. He would protect all he loved.
As if drunken with that thought, Merlyn kissed Gwendolyn on the forehead, squeezing up next to her once again.
Had this not been in such dire situations, he would think it simply a night stroll around the country.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Arlic

Entering an old Monastery, Arlic searched around for someone to aid him. He spotted an old clerk sitting at a desk in the far corner.
“You there! Old man?” He called out. The old clerk kept writing and did not turn to face him.
“Oh great, one that is hard of hearing.” He moved closer and shouted louder, “OLD MAN!” Still no response. Walking briskly across the room he halted at the side of the desk and reached out to shake the man to get his attention.
“Do not touch me young wizard, I am old and achy.” He muttered with a slight wheeze in his voice.
“You heard me?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you not respond?” Arlic was insulted for being ignored now that he knew the old man could hear.
“There is no need to shout in the house of the lord, nor is there any reason to be addressed as ‘old…man’. It is true I am old and I am a man, but that is not my name.”
Sighing heavily, Arlic had no time for this word play, he had errands to run and to return to merlyn before it was too late!
“I am sorry Clerk. I seek aid in information of this evil roaming around… Do you have something that might aid Merlyn in defeating this creature?” He spoke as gallantly as possible, hoping he would be underway in only a matter of minutes.
“Aye I can help you young wizard.” He nodded his head as he spoke.
“Oh thank you Sir!” He smiled a little, relief washing through him.
“With advice…” The old man turned and glanced up at Arlic’s pale features.
“You.. You have no books or. Or scrolls? Perhaps something insightful to read?”
“Nope.”
“No spells of great power? No armies?”
“No lad, I do not.” Again he shook his head.
“My advice to you is to look within to defeat this evil.”
“With in?” Arlic paused thinking over and over that statement.
“With in what?”
“That young man, has to be figured out for yourselves.”
“What help is that!?” Arlic spouted out in anger.
“It is all I was told and all I can pass on.. There is nothing here to aid.. wait.” He held up a finger and pointed it at Arlyic, “Wait here.” Slowly he unfolded himself from the chair. Expecting a short man, Arlic was surprised when a man as tall as the rafters stood up. He stood at least six and a half feet, thin and bent slightly. He had no hair on his head, the hood falling back to reveal this, only a sparse sprinkling of gray hairs on his chin. Odd how he noticed this, but more so how quickly the old man moved.
“A sword of silver and gold. Fabled to be a weapon of truth and justice.. Take this young Arlic to Merlyn. I do not know who seeks Merlyn, or the wizards of the world, but this evil is a man.. Go now I have much to do.”
“Thank you Clerk, for you aid.. If I may ask?”
The clerk waved his hand around in the air, as if to say proceed.
“Know of anywhere I may find that in which I seek? Scrolls, books, something viable?” Arlic asked hopeful that this man would know.
“All that is needed to defeat this evil, I think perhaps….. Perhaps Merlyn would know that more than I. All the wizards are vanishing, the eldest remaining now is Merlyn and his lady love… They will find a way young wizard.” The old man turned back to his writing and ignored each question Arlic tried to ask until the young man gave up and left for Merlyn’s home.
“Poor child has no idea what he has gotten himself in for…” The old clerk muttered, knowing that not even god seemed to be able to stop this evil from spreading.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Gwedolyn

"And you my Love, are too trusting for even your own good. What man has trusted demons and vampires alike?" I glanced up and seen Willow flinch.
"No offense intended Willow..Forgive me I do not mean it in a bad way." I smiled up at the young man and turned my attention back to Merlyn.
"This old woman becomes more and more eccentric every year.." Shaking my head, I glanced off towards the village. "We are almost there, I just hope she has fed tonight and will not be too testy with us.." Vampires did frighten me to a small point. Knowing that soon as my son turned twenty one years old, he too would change into a vampire. If only I knew who the father was, who the rapist had been.. Its in the past and did not matter. My blood ran in his viens, that would keep him strong and safe as long as I could protect him.
The carriage stopped before the old stone house, I squeezed Merlyn's hand once more for courage, not for him but myself as I stepped down from the carriage. I did hope she had answers to our troubles, but would we like the answers, if any?
Willow moved to the door and knocked twice before backing up a little. The dark haired beauty came to the door and opened the portal wide.
"Ahh.. Finally. What took you so long?" She barked at merlyn, a twinkle in her eye as she grinned. Damned woman always knew everything! I smiled a little, glad she was here to aid us.
"Eve, so good to see you.." I started and she held up her hand to interrupt me. "I know, come inside please." The old woman sure didn't look too old today? Odd but then again I had only met her once a long time ago, and could not recall her face.
Following her in, I found a seat and waited for Merlyn to speak with her.

 

[poohlive]

"Time is of the essence, my dear," he bowed low, kissing the witch's outsretched hand, "We do not insist on taking too much of your time. You are aware of the trouble that plagues us all."
He sat down, getting omfortable in his own right. An hour or so inside a bumpy carriage had done a number on him, and he felt better as he relaxed inside her humble home, despite the reasons for being here.
"There is much controversy on how to proceed with all of this. Many debates on who to trust, who can help, and who is most assuredly behind this. I come here to beg your assistance, to tell us, whatever you can. Help us flush out this demon within our ranks, if it is within your power. He has evaded everyone so far, no magic can pierce the black shadow that lies over his mind. I want to know who he is, and how I can stop him..."
He sat back in his chair, under the table, his hands shaking as he spoke, "How we can stop him."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Gwendolyn

The witch just sat and stared at us both for the longest time before she began her 'ritual'. Closing her eyes, she appeared to be concentrating on something.
I sat in silence, watching and wondering if she was capable of finding this threat? And if so, what would she say to us about defeating him? I kept my hopes up and kept silent.
Another thought occured to me while sitting here. We had the powers within to call down the stars and rain their destruction onto the earth. We had the power to regrow life or snuff it away like a candle light. We had knowledge of ancient scrolls and forces in which could change the shape of the earth's surface if we wanted it badly enough.... So why were we coming to this witch? Merlyn did not want to bind our powers together, He did not want to combined our knowledge into a single bound book either.. He had his reasons of course, but I wondered myself if it would do what needed to be done? The binding could be undone once the unknown enemy was destroyed..

"..'Tis a bad idean Miss Gwen... erase those thoughts....." I startled a little as I met eye to eye with the witch. She had been reading my thoughts.
"And why is that witch?"
"You and I know why, it's too great of a threat to those around us." A banging on the door interrupted the witch.
"Excuse me a moment." She moved towards the door and stopped suddenly still as death its self.
"Get out..." She mumbled it, and then turned suddenly to face us, "get out! Go and hurry!" She scrambled and barred the door as I rose from my sseat.
"What is wrong?" I heard the knock like sound again as the witch turned a few more times, searching for something. Reaching out, I grasped the witch's arm in my hand. "Do not waste time with me. Go and take little emma with you!"
"emma? Who is emma?" I asked, still wondering who was at the door?
"Shouldn't you get the door?" I could feel nothing, no bad karma, nothing bad coming from whom ever was knocking, but the witch seemed to be shakey and pale now. Reaching under the table she pulled a little hand from under it. Squatting down, I met the deep emerald eyes of a little girl. "Emma?" I asked, her head nodding up and down once.
"Never mind.. No time.. Emma back with you.." The witch let go of her hand and scooted her back with a wave of her hand.
"Who is at the door witch?"
"I do not know.." She went towards the door and called out, "Busy, come back later!" After a few seconds the with visibly relaxed. "tis nothing.. Let's get back to business.." She slowly moved from the door to her chair.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Arlic

As he rode hell bent across the lands, an evil darkness was swarming over his head and chasing him down. One of three to go, Arlic too had to go. He wasn't as yet a great wizard but Merelyn's words of praise and the little tests had proven Arlic was going to be powerful by his own rights..
Something the evil could not allowe, something that had to be rid of. Arlic rode harder, his eyes wide as he raced his horse to the ground nearly to reach the safety of Merelyn's home.
"YAH! YAH!" He shouted out at the horse, his hands using the reins to slap the horses flanks. He pushed him harder and harder, barely making it inside the gates as a hand grabbed at him. Ducking he fell and rolled off of his horse, the sword landed under the watering troth, He got to his feet and called out, "Merelyn!? Gendolyn!" He needed someone to help but no one was around. No one could hear him either, for the black smog had surrounded him and veiled him from the staff's gaze.
Laughter erupted around him, a low evil cackling, far from feminine but still as freakish.
"BE gone!" Arlic shouted at the inky swirling mass around him. He began chanting a spell of transportation but as he spoke something came out and knocked him in the mouth. Grunting as he was knocked backwards, He went down half bent, landing on his side and his forearm.
"Noooo.... You're turn young aprentice..." A scream went through the air as the black mass saved himself alot of time and energy, using the sword he nailed Arlic to the ground. Jerking and spurting up blood the mass once again began to laugh as it faded. The sword had went through his lung and deep into the ground, if he did not bleed to death before Merlyn got back, he wouls surely die before morn. He had to do another errand..
He laughed boisterously as he faded away, speeding towards the witch's domain, towards sweet Gwen and one old hag..

Arlic lay twitching between screams of pain, but his screams were in his head for he could barely gurgle out a breath and drawn in another watery gasp. He sounded old, rattling as he was, tears stung his eyes.. He was too young to die this way! He reached for the handle to pull the sword free but could not reach. Bawling like a wee babe, he tried rolling to get free but only moved a little before the pain was too great. He was dying and he knew it, with the pain and weakness, he could not summon up anything to help himself. He hoped a servant would come out and help him, but all were cowering in the galley, too afraid to come out and face the evil that had just visited upon Merelyn.
They would flee, they had too, or be faced with the same fate as the others. Merelyn was cursed, they were best off leaving. And so they began packing, the house hold servants were superstious ninny's.
Hell was breaking loose, the men-at-arms were awoken to arlic's scream and had franticly searched the yards and outter walls. They could hear but could not see him? Used to this kind of thing they stayed and kept looking until Arlic appeared from out of no where.
"Blessed mary!" An archer ran up to Arlic and looked him over.
"..'Ere, lemme see.." A big burly guy moved through the few gathered men and knelt down. "..'E wont be livin' long.." He felt for the boy but he was a hardened warrior, he had to no time for semantics. Yanking the sword free from the dying wizard, he stood and called the men to arms. Something would be back again, and they would be ready. The practioner came and carried Arlic to a small hut while the army gathered up the servants and locked them into the main house. No one was going anywhere, not even the dense help.. That thing was out there waiting, and Greuber would be ready with his men..

 

[poohlive]

Merlyn didn't like this one bit. A temepered steel bolt had jumped into his spine, dancing along the bones in his back, making him want to do nothing more than stand up, and help the old woman.
She was scared, and that terrified him more than any pounding ever could. The powerful sorceress to be frightened of something, it must be important.
His first thoughts went to the black shadow. Was it here, did it know of their visit?
The man truly knew was a horrible foe if he was already in knowledge of their countermeasures.
The door burst open, Willow scrambling through it.
"My lords," he bowed, his entire frame shaking.
"Yes, yes Willow. What is the meaning of this? You had us all scared."
"It is the horses sir, something spooks them."
Merlyn thought he knew just what they were firghtened of, the same thing each of them had come here for. The black shadow.
"Go home, go as fast as you can."
"Sir?"
"We'll find another way home. Just go, make sure the northern tower is set for our work tonight. Go dear boy, go."
Willow disappeared more than he ran out into the darkened night. Merlyn saw the clouds moving overhead, sensing an approaching storm. Something wicked this way comes.
"I think we should hurry," he said, sititing back down.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Gewndolyn

"I do not like this..." I shivered, sensing something was amis, terribly. My hand clutched Merlyn's tightly as I watched the pale witch sit back down, her frame shaking uncontrolably.
"You must do whatever you need to do to stop this and deter it's evil purpose." Her p's spit a little as she glanced around, as if something was looming over her head.
Her naturally dark skin was paler with each passing moment, her hands clutching at her medicine bag around her neck.
"Take my grand daughter and go.. Now!" She hurriedly whispered, I tried to figure out if that was good advice or bad when she stood up and started chanting.
"We best go love.." I rose up quickly and took the younger girl's hand in my own, tugging her with me towards the side door.
"Merlyn! Come!" I begged him to get up and come with me, I did not want to remain here a moment longer. The witch was ignoring us both now as the wind began to howl eerily outside.

 

[poohlive]

Winds swirled about, playing off of the force driving inside themselves, a power stronger than any talent that meeted there tonight rode on the back of Satan himself, hording his own selfish gift to destroy all others.
The roof ripped itself off, never to land. Black smoke swirled against the night sky, only visible as it blocked out the stars twinkling lights, harbouring black magic in its wake.
Merlyn's skin crawled as he looked at it all. The time had come. This demon, black shadow, whoever he claimed himself to be, had far more power than even he had given the thing credit for.
Good God, the man could control evil itself. Merlyn could taste it in the air, a bitter starch that nagged at him worse than any feeling he had ever felt before.
It scared him.
For a man as powerful as he, who could wield so many gifts at the mere touch of a finger, this was no simple feat.
Merlyn was scared.
"You foul demon, return to the depths which you came."
A slick venemous voice came from nowhere, and everywhere. It echoed off of the walls that held no roof over their heads, as hell began to circle below the heavens.
"No simple task old man. There is much death to cause."
Merlyn snarled, "Your days are numbered."
He raised his hand into the air, thick lightening, bright and radiant exploded into the air. It blinded him, for a second, leaving negative lightening streaks and dots in his vision. The lightening seemed to scatter across the tained sky, bent on grasping at its captor.
A black shadow fell to the ground in front of him. Something heavy leaning against himself. No clothing, the dark hood that covered his face seemed to be mended from shadow... his cloak made from darkness. A toothless smile that churned Merlyn's stomach.
"It will take more than an illumination spell to defeat me."
Merlyn raised his hands, "It will take a lot more than cheap tantrics to defeat me."
The shadow seemed to grab a black oak staff out of thin air, holding it out in front of him.
"It begins..."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Gwedolynn

I backed up, gasping sharply at the evil swirling around us. Nothing was safe, I could feel it eminating from the darkness!
Muttering a protection spells as quickly as I could, I pulled the young girl with me and into the corner of the cabin.
I watched helpless almost as the roof was removed, the evil swirled lower and more threatening than before..
Or was it always this way and seemed worse? I had never personally ran into this being but I could feel its anger and hatred towards myself and Merlyn.
"Careful love!" I called out in warning, for it seemed to surround us one moment and flitter back a distance the next..

And in that moment, I heard a wicked laugh inside my head and a taunting voice utter out Arlic's last words.. Clutching the girl, i shoved her behind me, glaring definately at the black mist.
"You will never get what you seek!" It laughed yet again and began to chant my son's name softly.. I knew only I could hear it for Merlyn was speaking to the creature.

Ducking out the back door I watched the two battle mockly. They were testing each other....

"The wagon is gone, we must walk to safety.." I moved around and glanced for something. Locating a small shed I told the girl to go in there and hide. Pushing her along, I stepped back inside the cabin and prepared myself for whatever was coming between these two...
I could feel the air hum with electricity of their powers, each pushing the boundries for an opening, each mentally battling as well as physically. I stood my ground, ready to aid Merlyn should he need my strength added with his.
"This is a warning..." It taunted in my head, but I gave no sign I was listening nor responded.

 

[poohlive]

"You old fool, you have no strength left. Look at you, even now. Sweat coming off your brow already, and you have done nothing more than call me out... Give up. I will show mercy."
Merlyn laughed, despite all of this he couldn't help but see the lunacy inside this man.
"You have shown nothing but pain, and I think it's time someone showed it to you back."
A grin of sheer evil enclosed upon the face, which wasn't a face at all, more of a blackened mask that accented every feature. The grin looked like the sliver of the moon, distorted and blackened into something almost too painful to look at.
The oak staff shimmered with magic, energy radiating from its end. With one single motion, something similiar to what a conductor might do, he struck out against Merlyn.
The power, something dark and foreign, raced through the air. It crackled and snapped with death, powerful beyond even Merlyn's imaginings. He tried to think of something, to stop it, deter it, but his mind rode blank. He stood there, his wrinkled hands closing into claws, his mind searching for a counterspell that he did not know, and death riding through the air towards him.
It stopped.
In front of him, just before reaching him, befouling his own aura with whatever it intended to do. A green light peaked, willing it to stand down from its hectic track.
The old woman gave a cackle, as she held out her hand. Merlyn thanked her, unable to do anything more. The spell fizzled into the air, going back to whatever mana it was spawned from, as the dark demon looked upon his unseen enemy with new hate.
"I had thought you came to fight your own battles Merlyn. You have old women help you with everything?"
Merlyn held his hand out flat, gathering energy for his own spell.
"In my old age, I need help with everything."
The shadow held out a hand. In a flash of disease the old woman found herself inside the evil demon's clutches. She held onto the arm, screaming out, but the with a destrustable tongue, the man silenced her.
"My dear, that is no way to act. You have lived a long life, death shouldn't frighten you."
She spat at him, an evil in her own eye matched his, "Go to hell."
He reached up, snapping her neck, "You first."
Merlyn struck. With his distraction at the moment, he could do little to defend the blow. It came at him, full force, just as the lifeless old woman fell into the softened earth below. He screamed, as flashes of both dark and light combined pushing him further back.
"Pain," Merlyn shouted, above the screaming, "Don't tell me in all your years of giving it, you have never actually experienced the art of pain."
In a swirl that came out of the depths of hell itself, Merlyn felt himself sweep into the air, moving with the wind towards the man, his screams still echoing inside Merlyn's ears. A happy sound, something he go to sleep at night hearing.
The shadow grabbed for him, within the wind sworn magic that now held Merlyn's fate. He cringed, unable to understand all of this power. The man would not stop. He seemed to have unimaginable power backing up every spell. Nothing dissolved, nothing needed to be gathered, he only thought and it happened.
The shadow demon had satan himself fueling his magic. The only reason nothing worked, no counter spell existed, no magic could deter it. He wasn't using magic, not a form found on the planet anyway, he was using evil.
Manipulating it like a tool.
Merlyn felt himself smash into the ground, his back screaming in pain. On top of him climbed the dark shadow, pinning him down.
"I want to see your face, as I rip your heart out."
Merlyn tried to speak, but he couldn't. The wind had been knocked out of him. In a flash, he saw the difigured claws of the man, bending and searching for that one spot in his chest, able to undo all of these preparations.
The old woman's death in vain...
No.
The meeting of magic useless...
No.
His love dying in the arms of this mad man...
No.
Death, the ultimate magic, something a field all itself. No rules, no hidden agenda's, no feeling of greed or lust or hate. Death is cold hard fact, but no one knows it until they die. No one can imagine death, really imagine its true purpose, until their breath is stopped cold in their lungs.
The shadow looked at Merlyn, soulless pupils tearing into him with a hunger he had never seen before. A sense of foreign tension, but also of familiarity.
A sense of recognition.
Merlyn shifted, and as he did so, the cross worn around his neck came out, moved between fabrics of cloth. It stared at them both, lying on top of his chest.
Merlyn saw it, the tiny flash of gold.
If this man weilded pure evil, there was only one thing he could use to stop it...
He reached for the cross, and muttered the Lord's prayer.
In a flash the shadow was gone.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Gwendolyn

After witnessing what I just seen I knew we had to do something more than average and more than what we had. We had to combined our power to stop this thing...
Running over to Merelyn's side I took his hand and studied him closely. 'You know what we have to do now.' I whispered.
Looking back over my shoulder I felt a shiver pass down my spine.
"He will return, we best get home and prepare for him my Love. Please?" I tugged on his hand, wanting out of the open and back where we had the most knowledge gathered, where the scrolls of the world which held the darkest and greatest powers imaginable were waiting.
"We have little choice, but we must prepare ourselves. Come." I didn't wait for him to answer me, I began dragging him back with me towards the castle. The young woman was a mess, crying over her dead grandmother but there was little time to comfort her. There wasn't time to comfort me either! Whatever was coming for us was much stronger than even I could have imagined and it worried me. Watching Merelyn's eyes worried me as well.

 

[poohlive]

At first he didn't know what had happened, or maybe he chose not to think about it. An old wizard such as himself, he had done a lot of thinking, too much, some might say. This just seemed like something too big to wrap himself around, an anomoly he chose not to understand.
He didn't have much time left to understand.
God had helped him.
That was simple enough. God, the giver of life, creator of all that was heavenly, and a few things not so heavenly, had spared him in a way nothing else could.
Merlyn hadn't asked for God's help. When he held his hand up to the golden cross, he only wanted to make things square with the big man upstairs, make sure he had cashed in the last of his chips before that shadow planned on squeezing just a little bit tighter...
But then the explosion happened. A brilliance of white light that had blinded him for a few seconds, watching as the shadow disappeared within the light.
Banished.
He had no idea why that word came to mind, but it fit him just fine. A God word, perhaps. Perhaps...
God had spared him.
God had used his own magic to make sure Merlyn stayed alive. He looked down at the pendant, but it as gone. His neck stood naked now, no cross, no chain, nothing but old wrinkled skin.
Merlyn knew he was on borrowed time now. God had given him one last push, a final touch, and he didn't have long to use it. The time to think had been over.
He sighed, wishing he had that time, wishing something could go his way, some plan be achieved without all hell breaking loose.
It couldn't happen that way though, it wasn't supposed to happen that way.
He felt a hard tug at his side, and fell into a puddle of mud. It washed all about him, getting into his mouth and stinging his eyes. He held himself up, getting a few breaths in before looking around at what had been left.
His eyes fell on Gwendolyn.
"Oh, darling," he went up to hug her, unaware of the brown droplets still pittering on the ground, trying to reach the puddle they had been so happily swimming in before he came.
"Are you all right," he held her firmly against him, wanting to make sure she still lived. In the whole chaos of the moment, he had forgotten all about her.
Forgotten all about everything.
That scared him. For some reason that scared him worse than any black shadow ever could.
"Did he hurt you at all? Is the kid ok? I didn't see you at all."
He hadn't been looking for her. His eyes were focused on an energy of pure evil, and Gwendolyn had rushed from his mind like a bad ache in his side, there, but forgotten.
Until all was over.
He could hear the small girl, crying in the distance. She held onto her dead mother. He gave a smile, knowing all the help she had given, aware that even though the mother had died, she would never leave that little girl.
That comforted him. Something small in all of this evil death and destruction, but in a way it helped. It put everything in perspective.
It humbled him.
Just as God humbled him.
He felt a shiver go down his back.
He didn't like being humbled.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Gwen

"I am fine Love, do not worry.. Let's get ourselves back to the castle Merlyn before it returns." I pleaded, knowing we had to prepare for the war of our lives. Something shivered down my spine and I quickly chanted off a protection spell, it was going to come back.
It wasn't a question at all but a fact, the only real question was "when?"
I helped Merlyn along towards the girl. he seemed a little worried, more so than usual. He appeared to have seen his own death but that was ludacris!
"You are shaking my love.. Are you able to travel?" I asked, fear still eating in the edges of my brain but I knew it was the evil being's tricky ways that caused all this uncertainty inside myself. He was messing with my mind and trying to make me flee, but I had faced down worse foes than him... Or so I thought! And he would not make me run and hide!
"Let's be on our way." Taking the girls hand and following Merlyn we made our way through the marsh lands and woods towards our home.
"Arlic may have found something.. Mongrel as well?" I tried to think of something positive in our powers, something that could over come this dark sinister evil without killing the lot of us in the process.

 

[poohlive]

Borrowed time.
That is what each step felt like, borrowed time. He thought about the path that he carved through the thick underbrush, as tangled shrubs that had become dormant in the winter months grabbed for his cloak, still dripping the Earth's tears. His foot coming down to the ground, and doubts flashing through his mind. If he hadn't been saved, he would never make this step, and this step, and this one.
It seemed chaotic, a feeling swept over him and he had to laugh to keep from crying right there, scaring his love which he adored so much. She seemed like a rock in spite of their horrid events that took place.
That's what he admired in a woman. She didn't think of the consequences of the pain, or the problems, she just got up, dusted off the pain, and moved on, thinking of another way to stop this shadow.
His hands, old and wrinkly. Scars of life. Nothing that came from the battlefield, but rather ironically, outside of that environment. One got these wounds by having to endure years and years of humanity, as well as ones own self. He admired the men of war, they lived short lives, but by God, they lived. If he had to do it over, he would want to trade all of his powers for one shot in combat.
Old dreams from childhood, that even in his senility refused to go away.
"Hold it," he said, some of his strength returning to him, "I think I can now."
He held his hand up before him, closing his eyes to concentrate. For a moment nothing happened, his energies were focused, but the power never came. Perhaps God had traded his life for something, his abilites. His heart dropped in his chest, fearing this thought burned inside his brain. That would be the end of them all.
It came, slow and unsteady, but it came. A warm blanket wrapping around both of them, as the field they stood in vanished, replaced by the rock and defines of an old castle study.
His study.
One he never thought he would see again.
Merlyn gave out a loud sigh, which would seem almost comical if he hadn't nearly fallen to the floor. He caught himself, sitting down in a plush red chair. Flopping more than sitting, but at least it wasn't on the ground.
He gave thanks for that.
Merlyn hadn't broughten the child with them. He didn't think her destiny lied with them. Maybe it did, everything had a destiny, and with this evil, it turned all fates in its direction, but not now... not here, not with such a young one. He wanted her to be with her mother, at least the memory of her.
A soft whisper thanked him, and he gave a nod. A ghost speaking to him, even with his powers, would have made him jump clean out of his skin, but he was just too damned tired to be scared.
Besides, once God decides to take on for you, it puts a lot of things into perspective...
Even ghosts.
He did it for another reason though. He didn't want the girl coming here. She was too young, and knew not the forces that drifted in the night. He didn't want the shadow to get near her.
The shadow came for them. A feeling, like a cold wind brushed up against him, and he knew. It came, just as it came before.
Only this time it was ready.
And he couldn't ask for God's intervention.
God had left him.
He didn't want that girl anywhere near this castle, now damned by their actions, noble or not. What he had decided, the binding he had now pushed into his mind as no other choice brought a plague upon this ground, and all it touched.
Death came for all of them.
The Shadow followed, right on his heels, quick as you please.
"Call the others," he said, his voice weaker than he thought it would be, and it surprised even him, "Call them, and let us begin this, for better or worse."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Gwedolyn

Corbin was safely in the castle, I felt his prences as soon as I entered. Merlyn was weakening and he looked pale as snow. This frightened me but I did well at hiding it.
"Yes Merlyn.." I tried to contact mentally but was unable. Using a summons call/spell I let them both know I needed them..
And icy feeling crept up my spine as soon as it was done and I turned to Merlyn.
"Arlic is dead..." I paled considerably, knowing that the same evil that threatened us tonight had taken arlic from us as well.
Again the laughter sounded in my head, echoing through the castle as well.
"That vile....!!!" I cursed in gaelic and latin.
"Merlyn.." I grabbed him, moving to stand before him. Looking up into his tired features I soothed my hands down the sides of his face, our eyes meeting. Both knowing what must be done.
"We must make a binding my love.. It is the only power great enough to stop him.. We combined only the goodness, only the good powers and spells and place them into a book.." granted I knew these powers were older than time its self and that these powers in the wrong hands would be more destructive than anything else, it was also our only hope.
"We... We bind and protect this book.. Only the blood of our blood.?" I paused, not sure we would live to procreate.. Corbin would be our only hope and with this evil.. I paused, not wanting to think about it.
"We must wait for Mongrel.." I stood back from him, wrapping my arms around myself as I paced the floor.
A knock was heard on the door as the captain of the guardsmen came striding in.
"We know." I said simply. Saying nothing he handed over Arlic's bag he was carrying and quietly left to remain ready with his men along the castle walls.
Opening the satchel, I pulled out a shimmering sword of silver and gold.. Only it wasn't the sword, it was a picture drawn of the sword and a scrawled note from Arlic on it's where abouts and purpose.. Now why had he taken time to hide this sword when he was being chased down? And if he was being chased down, wouldn't the evil being have it in his possestion? Alot of unanswered questions and alot to do before the next night fell.