Secrets of Draconis - 9/11
Chapter Nine
The trio made their way down the cliff face toward the suspension bridge and found their way blocked by a familiar figure.
“Greetings,” said Grettir with a smile. “I see Courage still sleeps, but Strength and Magic have brought his sister Power in his place to see the quest through.”
Morgana frowned and turned to Merlin. “You know him?”
“Keeper of the bridge to the Perilous Lands,” he explained glancing at the long bridge that the small man now guarded before turning his gaze back to its guardian. “And it would seem others as well.”
“Few places remain with enough power to need my services,” said Grettir with a sigh. “But since you have passed the trials of the Temple of the Winds unscathed, you require only one thing more to continue your journey.”
Reaching inside the pouch at his waist, Grettir pulled forth three golden petals and held them in his hand.
“Strength cannot survive without a foundation of responsibility,” he said handing the first petal to Gwaine. “Remember what you have seen, for without a heart to guide it strength will never truly reach its full potential.”
“I will remember your words,” Gwaine answered as Grettir nodded and turned to Morgana.
“Power comes easily to some,” he continued scrutinizing Morgana as he contemplated the petals in his hand. “But trust and willingness to sacrifice for others are necessary to keep it in balance.” Morgana paled and held his gaze until Grettir smiled and held up the second petal for her to take. “I believe you have found balance at last,” he said as she took it from his hand with shaking fingers. Grettir gave her arm a soft pat before turning to Merlin.
“And last there is Magic,” he said with a grin. “So strong, but yet so unsure of his worthiness to wield that to which he was born.” Merlin froze in fear that Grettir would somehow divulge his closest held secret. “Worry not Dragon Lord, for you have shown that which truly lies in your heart, and if you have courage, regret and loneliness will no longer distract you from your true path.”
Merlin breathed out a sigh of relief as Grettir held up the final petal for him to take. As Merlin bent closer, the smaller man whispered a few words for his ears only causing the Warlock to blush and Gwaine to smirk in his direction.
“The bridge to Shangri-La is yours,” he announced stepping to the side to allow them to pass. “I wish you luck on your quest.”
As the sun rose over the snow-capped mountains, the three of them stepped forward onto the bridge, holding fast to the ropes at its sides. Once they had made it a few steps forward, Morgana turned back, and found that the guardian was gone.
By midday they had left the bridge behind and were making their way down a long ravine. When they reached the bottom, they found a set of large doors embedded in the rock face covered in lotus blossoms. Above the circular handles rested a golden lotus with three petals missing.
“Well at least he gave us the key,” Gwaine shrugged as they each placed their petal into one of the open spaces. A series of clicks and a grinding of gears sounded as the door unlocked and swung open revealing a hidden valley filled with waterfalls, palm trees, and other lush vegetation. The spire of a golden temple gleamed in the distance, and the three friends shared a grin before making their way toward it, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows behind them.
~~~~~~~~
Shangri-La
As they walked through the valley, the three travellers marveled at the various magical creatures who had found refuge within the hidden sanctuary. A griffin sailed overhead and an eagle as large as a wyvern swooped down on the nearby lake to catch an impossibly large fish in its talons before heading back to its aerie to feed her young.
Unicorns frolicked in the meadow and Centaurs lazed about underneath the trees. Nymphs danced around a satyr playing a reed flute, and faeries flitted from branch to branch, chasing the wood sprites as they gathered fruit from the trees. Merlin stopped as they neared the temple at the heart of the valley and closed his eyes letting the subtle notes of ancient magic that ran through the place wash over him and balm his tired soul.
“The heart-song of Shambala is soothing, is it not?” an elderly man in golden robes asked as he descended the temple steps to greet him.
“It is indeed,” Merlin replied opening his eyes with a smile as he beheld the man he had seen depicted in the mural within the Naga temple.
“Come,” the man gestured guiding them toward the temple. “Long have I stood guardian over the temple and its secrets. I know what you seek.”
The trio followed him inside the golden temple to a wall covered in runes. Small indents covered the wall, some filled with precious stones, and others standing empty as if waiting for their turn to be filled.
Morgana reached up and felt inside one of the indents, feeling a small pulse of magic caress her fingertips as she did so.
“Do you think we are supposed to fill them somehow?” she asked as Gwaine stepped back and ran the ring on his necklace back and forth as he contemplating the wall.
“Looks like a mass of stars to me,” he commented tilting his head to the side and squinting at the wall as if trying to discern something from the mass of dots upon it.
“Or a constellation,” Merlin breathed, reaching into his bag to pull out the velvet pouch full of pearls. Handing the bag to Morgana, he cupped his palms, giving her room to empty the entire bag into his hands.
“Here goes nothing,” he said as he closed his eyes and concentrated on the power of the Dragon Lords inside him. The magic of the temple sang in recognition and the pearls within his palm started to glow as he opened his eyes and growled, ‘Dráko̱n mas deíxei to drómo,’ ‘Draco show us the way’ in the language of his ancestors. The pearls began to glow and slowly lifted from his hand to place themselves into the formation of the constellation of Draco. The largest of the pearls remained in his hand. Realizing that it must represent Draconis, the brightest star in the constellation, his eyes flashed gold and he whispered its name, causing the pearl to rise from his hand to the centre of the door, illuminating the entire string of pearls in the shape of the celestial dragon.
“Well done,” the temple guardian congratulated them as the door shimmered and became translucent, allowing them to pass through it. “But you must make haste,” he said pointing to the roof of the temple where the rays of the late afternoon sun shone down on the temple floor. “The door will only stay open until Draconis’ light shines upon it and closes it once more,” he warned.
“Best get a move on then,” Gwaine said with a smirk as he passed through the door. Morgana glanced back at Merlin and saw him exchange a few words with the guardian before joining her.
“Fifteen hundred years,” Morgana whispered as they stared at the door. “Are you ready for this?” she asked.
“It’s time,” Merlin answered with his trademark grin. “Come on Lady Sorceress, let’s go find some dragons.”
Making their way down the hidden passages beneath the temple they found themselves deep in the belly of an ancient volcano. Though the volcano itself was long dormant, the temperature rose as they reached a cavern filled with steam vents and rock formations glittering with crystals and gems, fashioned from the earth’s upheaval centuries before.
“Look!” Morgana cried out as she saw a large flat rock in the centre of the cavern. An impossible thatch of wild grass and flowers grew upon it, and nestled together in the centre of it was a clutch of dragon eggs.
“Are they still alive?” Gwaine asked as they ran towards them for a closer look.
“Kilgharrah once told me that a dragon egg could lie dormant for over a thousand years,” Merlin said as he held a shaking hand out to see if what he had been told held true. A faint brush of magic, followed by another, then a third each reached out to brush his own and Merlin fought back tears as he turned to his friends and smiled.
No words were needed as the trio laughed in happiness that the eggs had survived, and at long last, Mordred’s curse could be undone.
The three of them each scooped up an egg, careful to keep their precious cargo safe as they made their way back up through the winding tunnels to the temple.
As they passed through the door, the first shaft of moonlight drifted down to illuminate the temple and the door began to solidify once more.
Looking for the guardian to thank him before they left, Merlin almost collided with the man as he put a finger to his lips and gestured for them to follow him to the side of the temple.
A howl echoed through the valley and Gwaine’s eye shifted to amber as they ran through the temple and out the into to the forest beyond.
“Vali,” he snarled in recognition as the howl echoed again. “His clan has been after my territory for centuries,” he explained as they wove through the trees. “I fear his thirst for power has brought him to this place,” he apologized to the guardian as they came to a stop at a doorway embedded in the rock wall at the edge of the valley. Thrusting his egg at Merlin, he prepared to shed his clothes so that he could change and protect the valleys inhabitants.
But the guardian reached out and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder to stop him.
“The valley is enchanted to prevent violence,” he reassured him. “But your time grows short and you must leave before Draconis fades,” he urged glancing up to where the star now shone brightly overhead.
“How do we open the door?” Merlin asked as the howling grew louder. There was no discernible key or way to open it, and he felt no trace of magic, just a small slot near the crack that seemed to be waiting for a key. Frustrated he looked to the guardian who merely looked at Gwaine with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Time to tip the scales, Wolf King,” he said with a smile.
“Only the scale will turn the key,” Gwaine answered in surprise before reaching up to slip the chain from around his neck. Pulling off the golden dragon scale that rested upon it, he handed it to Merlin with a cheeky grin.
“Your key, Dragon Lord,” he said as Merlin shook his head in disbelief.
“You’ve had it the entire time?” Morgana asked as Merlin slipped the scale into a notch near the crack in the rock face and the door slid open.
“Been guarding it all my life,” he replied with a shrug. “Didn’t know quite what it was for until now though.”
Merlin pulled the scale back out and handed it to Gwaine so that he could replace it and the chain around his neck. The door began to slide closed once more and with a parting word of thanks the trio ran through the door and made their way down the rocky slope into the night, knowing that they needed to put as much distance between themselves and their pursuers before they attempted to find a way back to the resting place of Camelot, where it all began.
This entry was originally posted at http://moonfirefic.dreamwidth.org/49814.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
The trio made their way down the cliff face toward the suspension bridge and found their way blocked by a familiar figure.
“Greetings,” said Grettir with a smile. “I see Courage still sleeps, but Strength and Magic have brought his sister Power in his place to see the quest through.”
Morgana frowned and turned to Merlin. “You know him?”
“Keeper of the bridge to the Perilous Lands,” he explained glancing at the long bridge that the small man now guarded before turning his gaze back to its guardian. “And it would seem others as well.”
“Few places remain with enough power to need my services,” said Grettir with a sigh. “But since you have passed the trials of the Temple of the Winds unscathed, you require only one thing more to continue your journey.”
Reaching inside the pouch at his waist, Grettir pulled forth three golden petals and held them in his hand.
“Strength cannot survive without a foundation of responsibility,” he said handing the first petal to Gwaine. “Remember what you have seen, for without a heart to guide it strength will never truly reach its full potential.”
“I will remember your words,” Gwaine answered as Grettir nodded and turned to Morgana.
“Power comes easily to some,” he continued scrutinizing Morgana as he contemplated the petals in his hand. “But trust and willingness to sacrifice for others are necessary to keep it in balance.” Morgana paled and held his gaze until Grettir smiled and held up the second petal for her to take. “I believe you have found balance at last,” he said as she took it from his hand with shaking fingers. Grettir gave her arm a soft pat before turning to Merlin.
“And last there is Magic,” he said with a grin. “So strong, but yet so unsure of his worthiness to wield that to which he was born.” Merlin froze in fear that Grettir would somehow divulge his closest held secret. “Worry not Dragon Lord, for you have shown that which truly lies in your heart, and if you have courage, regret and loneliness will no longer distract you from your true path.”
Merlin breathed out a sigh of relief as Grettir held up the final petal for him to take. As Merlin bent closer, the smaller man whispered a few words for his ears only causing the Warlock to blush and Gwaine to smirk in his direction.
“The bridge to Shangri-La is yours,” he announced stepping to the side to allow them to pass. “I wish you luck on your quest.”
As the sun rose over the snow-capped mountains, the three of them stepped forward onto the bridge, holding fast to the ropes at its sides. Once they had made it a few steps forward, Morgana turned back, and found that the guardian was gone.
By midday they had left the bridge behind and were making their way down a long ravine. When they reached the bottom, they found a set of large doors embedded in the rock face covered in lotus blossoms. Above the circular handles rested a golden lotus with three petals missing.
“Well at least he gave us the key,” Gwaine shrugged as they each placed their petal into one of the open spaces. A series of clicks and a grinding of gears sounded as the door unlocked and swung open revealing a hidden valley filled with waterfalls, palm trees, and other lush vegetation. The spire of a golden temple gleamed in the distance, and the three friends shared a grin before making their way toward it, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows behind them.
~~~~~~~~
Shangri-La
As they walked through the valley, the three travellers marveled at the various magical creatures who had found refuge within the hidden sanctuary. A griffin sailed overhead and an eagle as large as a wyvern swooped down on the nearby lake to catch an impossibly large fish in its talons before heading back to its aerie to feed her young.
Unicorns frolicked in the meadow and Centaurs lazed about underneath the trees. Nymphs danced around a satyr playing a reed flute, and faeries flitted from branch to branch, chasing the wood sprites as they gathered fruit from the trees. Merlin stopped as they neared the temple at the heart of the valley and closed his eyes letting the subtle notes of ancient magic that ran through the place wash over him and balm his tired soul.
“The heart-song of Shambala is soothing, is it not?” an elderly man in golden robes asked as he descended the temple steps to greet him.
“It is indeed,” Merlin replied opening his eyes with a smile as he beheld the man he had seen depicted in the mural within the Naga temple.
“Come,” the man gestured guiding them toward the temple. “Long have I stood guardian over the temple and its secrets. I know what you seek.”
The trio followed him inside the golden temple to a wall covered in runes. Small indents covered the wall, some filled with precious stones, and others standing empty as if waiting for their turn to be filled.
Morgana reached up and felt inside one of the indents, feeling a small pulse of magic caress her fingertips as she did so.
“Do you think we are supposed to fill them somehow?” she asked as Gwaine stepped back and ran the ring on his necklace back and forth as he contemplating the wall.
“Looks like a mass of stars to me,” he commented tilting his head to the side and squinting at the wall as if trying to discern something from the mass of dots upon it.
“Or a constellation,” Merlin breathed, reaching into his bag to pull out the velvet pouch full of pearls. Handing the bag to Morgana, he cupped his palms, giving her room to empty the entire bag into his hands.
“Here goes nothing,” he said as he closed his eyes and concentrated on the power of the Dragon Lords inside him. The magic of the temple sang in recognition and the pearls within his palm started to glow as he opened his eyes and growled, ‘Dráko̱n mas deíxei to drómo,’ ‘Draco show us the way’ in the language of his ancestors. The pearls began to glow and slowly lifted from his hand to place themselves into the formation of the constellation of Draco. The largest of the pearls remained in his hand. Realizing that it must represent Draconis, the brightest star in the constellation, his eyes flashed gold and he whispered its name, causing the pearl to rise from his hand to the centre of the door, illuminating the entire string of pearls in the shape of the celestial dragon.
“Well done,” the temple guardian congratulated them as the door shimmered and became translucent, allowing them to pass through it. “But you must make haste,” he said pointing to the roof of the temple where the rays of the late afternoon sun shone down on the temple floor. “The door will only stay open until Draconis’ light shines upon it and closes it once more,” he warned.
“Best get a move on then,” Gwaine said with a smirk as he passed through the door. Morgana glanced back at Merlin and saw him exchange a few words with the guardian before joining her.
“Fifteen hundred years,” Morgana whispered as they stared at the door. “Are you ready for this?” she asked.
“It’s time,” Merlin answered with his trademark grin. “Come on Lady Sorceress, let’s go find some dragons.”
Making their way down the hidden passages beneath the temple they found themselves deep in the belly of an ancient volcano. Though the volcano itself was long dormant, the temperature rose as they reached a cavern filled with steam vents and rock formations glittering with crystals and gems, fashioned from the earth’s upheaval centuries before.
“Look!” Morgana cried out as she saw a large flat rock in the centre of the cavern. An impossible thatch of wild grass and flowers grew upon it, and nestled together in the centre of it was a clutch of dragon eggs.
“Are they still alive?” Gwaine asked as they ran towards them for a closer look.
“Kilgharrah once told me that a dragon egg could lie dormant for over a thousand years,” Merlin said as he held a shaking hand out to see if what he had been told held true. A faint brush of magic, followed by another, then a third each reached out to brush his own and Merlin fought back tears as he turned to his friends and smiled.
No words were needed as the trio laughed in happiness that the eggs had survived, and at long last, Mordred’s curse could be undone.
The three of them each scooped up an egg, careful to keep their precious cargo safe as they made their way back up through the winding tunnels to the temple.
As they passed through the door, the first shaft of moonlight drifted down to illuminate the temple and the door began to solidify once more.
Looking for the guardian to thank him before they left, Merlin almost collided with the man as he put a finger to his lips and gestured for them to follow him to the side of the temple.
A howl echoed through the valley and Gwaine’s eye shifted to amber as they ran through the temple and out the into to the forest beyond.
“Vali,” he snarled in recognition as the howl echoed again. “His clan has been after my territory for centuries,” he explained as they wove through the trees. “I fear his thirst for power has brought him to this place,” he apologized to the guardian as they came to a stop at a doorway embedded in the rock wall at the edge of the valley. Thrusting his egg at Merlin, he prepared to shed his clothes so that he could change and protect the valleys inhabitants.
But the guardian reached out and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder to stop him.
“The valley is enchanted to prevent violence,” he reassured him. “But your time grows short and you must leave before Draconis fades,” he urged glancing up to where the star now shone brightly overhead.
“How do we open the door?” Merlin asked as the howling grew louder. There was no discernible key or way to open it, and he felt no trace of magic, just a small slot near the crack that seemed to be waiting for a key. Frustrated he looked to the guardian who merely looked at Gwaine with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Time to tip the scales, Wolf King,” he said with a smile.
“Only the scale will turn the key,” Gwaine answered in surprise before reaching up to slip the chain from around his neck. Pulling off the golden dragon scale that rested upon it, he handed it to Merlin with a cheeky grin.
“Your key, Dragon Lord,” he said as Merlin shook his head in disbelief.
“You’ve had it the entire time?” Morgana asked as Merlin slipped the scale into a notch near the crack in the rock face and the door slid open.
“Been guarding it all my life,” he replied with a shrug. “Didn’t know quite what it was for until now though.”
Merlin pulled the scale back out and handed it to Gwaine so that he could replace it and the chain around his neck. The door began to slide closed once more and with a parting word of thanks the trio ran through the door and made their way down the rocky slope into the night, knowing that they needed to put as much distance between themselves and their pursuers before they attempted to find a way back to the resting place of Camelot, where it all began.
This entry was originally posted at http://moonfirefic.dreamwidth.org/49814.html. Please comment there using OpenID.