Crystal Unclear
Author: Gilli_ann
Title: Crystal Unclear
Rating: G
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Morgana
Summary: When Morgana steals the crystal of Neahtid, she may get more than she bargained for.
Word Count: 350
Prompt: 533 'surveillance'
Author's Notes: Modern AU with magic. Dialogue only.
Crystal Unclear
"Morgana got into the building? Despite all our surveillance equipment and sensors and physical barriers? How is that even possible?"
"She's a sorceress, Arthur. The cameras have been magically shattered. Our alarms are whispering nonsensical sing-song curses.
"You've got magic too, Merlin. Why didn't you sense this? Why didn't you stop it?"
"I'm sorry. I was distracted by the Wild Hunt rampaging outside."
"Part of her plan?"
"Absolutely."
"Have you at least figured out what she wanted here? I don't think she came to kill anyone. If so, she failed spectacularly."
"I think she probably came to steal the ancient crystal of Neahtid."
"You think? It should be easy enough to verify whether we've still got it."
"The safe it was kept in has melted and congealed into a massive clump of iron. It will take some time to undo that."
"Sit down, Merlin. You're making me nervous with your dithering!"
"Yes, Arthur."
"So what does this crystal do, exactly? What will she use it for?"
"It shows glimpses of the past and of the future. Supposedly it holds the secret of time itself within its depths."
"And...?"
"In the wrong hands, that could mean great evil."
"Huh. She plans to cheat and win the lottery, does she?"
"Hah-bloody-hah. No, she'll likely use it to discover our plans, find out where you'll be so she can launch attacks, that kind of thing."
"How accurate information will the crystal give her, Merlin? How wary do I need to be? And why on earth haven't you used this thing regularly yourself to monitor Morgana?"
"I did use it. Once. It showed me glimpses of what actually later came to pass. But it was all jumbled, panic-inducing, impossible to make sense of. In trying to avoid her actions, I helped bring them about."
"So not very useful, then?"
"Quite the opposite, I'd say. The crystal tricks you."
"In other words, Morgana is worse off for possessing it?"
"Yes. That thing spells trouble for the user."
"Good. I wish her many unsuccessful plots. May they all backfire, just like the theft of this crystal."
Title: Crystal Unclear
Rating: G
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Morgana
Summary: When Morgana steals the crystal of Neahtid, she may get more than she bargained for.
Word Count: 350
Prompt: 533 'surveillance'
Author's Notes: Modern AU with magic. Dialogue only.
Crystal Unclear
"Morgana got into the building? Despite all our surveillance equipment and sensors and physical barriers? How is that even possible?"
"She's a sorceress, Arthur. The cameras have been magically shattered. Our alarms are whispering nonsensical sing-song curses.
"You've got magic too, Merlin. Why didn't you sense this? Why didn't you stop it?"
"I'm sorry. I was distracted by the Wild Hunt rampaging outside."
"Part of her plan?"
"Absolutely."
"Have you at least figured out what she wanted here? I don't think she came to kill anyone. If so, she failed spectacularly."
"I think she probably came to steal the ancient crystal of Neahtid."
"You think? It should be easy enough to verify whether we've still got it."
"The safe it was kept in has melted and congealed into a massive clump of iron. It will take some time to undo that."
"Sit down, Merlin. You're making me nervous with your dithering!"
"Yes, Arthur."
"So what does this crystal do, exactly? What will she use it for?"
"It shows glimpses of the past and of the future. Supposedly it holds the secret of time itself within its depths."
"And...?"
"In the wrong hands, that could mean great evil."
"Huh. She plans to cheat and win the lottery, does she?"
"Hah-bloody-hah. No, she'll likely use it to discover our plans, find out where you'll be so she can launch attacks, that kind of thing."
"How accurate information will the crystal give her, Merlin? How wary do I need to be? And why on earth haven't you used this thing regularly yourself to monitor Morgana?"
"I did use it. Once. It showed me glimpses of what actually later came to pass. But it was all jumbled, panic-inducing, impossible to make sense of. In trying to avoid her actions, I helped bring them about."
"So not very useful, then?"
"Quite the opposite, I'd say. The crystal tricks you."
"In other words, Morgana is worse off for possessing it?"
"Yes. That thing spells trouble for the user."
"Good. I wish her many unsuccessful plots. May they all backfire, just like the theft of this crystal."