Secrets of Draconis - 6B/11
Title:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"> Secrets of Draconis
Author: MoonFireFic
Artist: ettoby
Beta Action and Brit-Picking: Milady Dragon
Pairings/characters: Arthur/Merlin, Morgana/Gwaine, Mordred, Kilgharrah, Leon, Aithusa, Others
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 31K
Warnings: Violence, Ghosts, Mythical Beings of All Sorts
Summary: After Mordred aligns himself with the essence of a Dark Dragon Lord, Camelot is lost and magic itself begins to fade. Centuries later, Merlin now working for the British Museum, makes a discovery that could change everything. With the help of Morgana and a few old friends, he begins a race against time to restore Camelot and bring balance to the magic of Albion before darkness reigns forever.
Author's notes: Zapada Paradis or Snow Haven was inspired by Corvinesti Castle in Romania. There are a lot of other really unique castles in Romania just waiting to be the scene of a story. Take a look when you get a moment here: www.romaniatourism.com/castles.html.
Art link: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:windowtext">Link to ettoby's art - go check it out!
Chapter Six-B
Snow Haven
Romania
Showered and changed into the fresh clothes that Gwaine’s people had provided, Morgana and Merlin joined Viorel, Gwaine’s advisor, and the erstwhile king himself in a hearty meal of venison, harvest vegetables, and fresh baked bread. Ale and wine had also been provided and Merlin couldn’t help but grin at the fact that even though he was now some sort of mythical wolf king, Gwaine still ate and drank with the same gusto as he had while still a mere a knight. Even Morgana, who was still trying to keep up her façade of polite indifference, seemed to be enjoying herself and Merlin caught her more than once scrutinizing his friend over the top of her wine glass as if trying to figure him out.
“So,” said Gwaine as the meal wound down and he sipped on his third mug of ale. “Where does that map of yours lead to next?”
Merlin unrolled the parchment and pointed to the next location.
“Yunnan Province,” Gwaine read in surprise. “You mean we’re going to China? Have you ever even been there?”
Merlin smiled, thinking back on his time exploring the great Silk Road with Marco Polo. He had sought out the astrologer of Kublai Khan who was said to know where the last of the Chinese Dragon Kings was hidden. Alas, it had only been a rumor.
“I’ve been there before, and it has been quite some time,” Merlin replied as he studied the map before him. “But I think we can find our way.”
“We have a meeting every hundred years with the head of the clans of Northern China,” Gwaine answered as he peered closer at the map. “The temple you have marked is well outside of their territory though. They tend to stay closer to where the goji berry grows wild and the snow falls thick on the trail.”
Merlin showed him the second temple he had marked on the map; the one inside the Himalayas that he secretly thought might actually be Shangri-La, or at least a clue as to its location.
“That is within the boundaries of the White Shadow Clan, is it not Sire?” Viorel asked as Gwaine traced the ridge of mountains with his finger.
“It is at that,” he answered as he sat back down to take another sip of ale. “But we are not due to see them again for at least another twenty years. They might take offense at my being in their territory without their permission.”
“True,” Viorel answered. “But you bring no armies or entourage with you Sire. Surely the Mountain Queen will respect that you have not come with ill intent?”
Gwaine snorted.
“Sadly my friend, I think she would rather I did,” he said with a frown.
“Why’s that?” Morgana asked, suddenly not caring much if this Mountain Queen was to be of help to them or not.
“She’s been trying to broker an alliance between out clans for centuries,” Gwaine replied as he swirled his ale inside his mug absently. “Seems to think that the black of our pelts would mix wonderfully with the ‘snowdrop purity of the White Mountain Clans,’ he finished raising his voice high enough to impersonate the queen in question.
“I take it you aren’t interested then?” asked Morgana as Gwaine looked up.
“She may be a fierce warrior as are all her kin,” he replied as he met her gaze. “But the heart blood of my clan beats fierce and free, hers knows only solitude and sorrow.”
“She’s a bit of an ice-queen then is she?” Merlin asked with a lop-sided grin.
“Got it in one, Merlin,” Gwaine replied with a grin. “They spend so much time away from humans, that they have forgotten the duality of our nature. It’s a pity to be sure, for as the beast gives us strength, the human heart gives us hope.”
Merlin shared a knowing glance with Viorel and smiled. It was a well-known fact to those that truly knew him that Gwaine tended to get rather philosophical when he was in his cups. For all that he had matured as a ruler of his people; that seemed to still hold true as ever.
“Right,” Merlin said as he brought them back to the task at hand. “The inscription mentions something about walking the way of the Tao Mountain and seeking the Red Lotus Guardian.”
“It must be Weibao Shan,” Morgana said as she slipped the map closer to her. Reaching for her wine glass she poured a small measure of it onto the parchment and whispered a spell to bring the terrain into relief around the next marker.
As the others watched, mountains covered in mists surrounded by an ancient river sprung up from the parchment as if they were looking down upon them, Morgana raised her hand and the image grew until it was hovering on the table before them.
“Nice work,” Merlin complimented as the goji berries clinging to the mountainside of Weibao Mountain sprung into view. As the mists parted around the mountainside, Morgana waved her hand and the mass of temples littering it sprung up and gave off a soft blue light so that they could be identified.
“But there are so many,” Gwaine complained as over a hundred lights illuminated on the map. “Did the map mention anything else about the location?” he asked hoping for a lead.
Merlin shook his head. “Just a few lines about the waters of the dragon being the key.”
Gwaine frowned. Something about this sounded familiar. During his last visit to the White Mountain Clan there had been a skirmish with the great bears of the frozen north and one of his guardsmen had been gravely injured. The White Mountain Clan’s healer had taken him aside and treated his wounds by having him swallow an elixir she had called the waters of the dragon. They had joked with him on the way home that he had probably drunk ancient dragon piss and Gregori had been angry for days until he had realized that the healer had treated him in a hurry and without any covering. Hearing that they had missed out on seeing the attributes of what was arguably the most beautiful of the White Mountain Clan women; his tormentors had quickly backed off and left him alone.
“It means a dragon well,” Gwaine whispered as he remembered the queen’s reassurance the waters had come from the well of an ancient temple that had been blessed by the ancient dragons themselves.
“A Dragon well?” Merlin asked skeptically.
“It’s a well whose waters were blessed by a dragon,” Gwaine explained. “Not sure if it’s true, but the White Mountain Clan swore that it had healing powers and came from a temple on the mountains below.”
Merlin nodded and passed his hand over Morgana’s map, causing all of the temples without a reference to a dragon or a well to fade.
Only two remained on Weibao Mountain.
“Well it looks like we have our destination,” Merlin said with a grin. “But how are we going to get there? It’s too far to teleport safely, and we only have two days left until the constellation is in alignment.”
“Leave that to me,” said Viorel said as he rose from the table. “I’ll have His Majesty’s private jet primed and ready by morning.” With that he excused himself and left the room.
“Private jet?” Merlin asked raising his eyebrow in Gwaine’s direction.
“Being King does have its perks,” Gwaine shrugged.
This entry was originally posted at http://moonfirefic.dreamwidth.org/50930.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
Author: MoonFireFic
Artist: ettoby
Beta Action and Brit-Picking: Milady Dragon
Pairings/characters: Arthur/Merlin, Morgana/Gwaine, Mordred, Kilgharrah, Leon, Aithusa, Others
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 31K
Warnings: Violence, Ghosts, Mythical Beings of All Sorts
Summary: After Mordred aligns himself with the essence of a Dark Dragon Lord, Camelot is lost and magic itself begins to fade. Centuries later, Merlin now working for the British Museum, makes a discovery that could change everything. With the help of Morgana and a few old friends, he begins a race against time to restore Camelot and bring balance to the magic of Albion before darkness reigns forever.
Author's notes: Zapada Paradis or Snow Haven was inspired by Corvinesti Castle in Romania. There are a lot of other really unique castles in Romania just waiting to be the scene of a story. Take a look when you get a moment here: www.romaniatourism.com/castles.html.
Art link: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:windowtext">Link to ettoby's art - go check it out!
Chapter Six-B
Snow Haven
Romania
Showered and changed into the fresh clothes that Gwaine’s people had provided, Morgana and Merlin joined Viorel, Gwaine’s advisor, and the erstwhile king himself in a hearty meal of venison, harvest vegetables, and fresh baked bread. Ale and wine had also been provided and Merlin couldn’t help but grin at the fact that even though he was now some sort of mythical wolf king, Gwaine still ate and drank with the same gusto as he had while still a mere a knight. Even Morgana, who was still trying to keep up her façade of polite indifference, seemed to be enjoying herself and Merlin caught her more than once scrutinizing his friend over the top of her wine glass as if trying to figure him out.
“So,” said Gwaine as the meal wound down and he sipped on his third mug of ale. “Where does that map of yours lead to next?”
Merlin unrolled the parchment and pointed to the next location.
“Yunnan Province,” Gwaine read in surprise. “You mean we’re going to China? Have you ever even been there?”
Merlin smiled, thinking back on his time exploring the great Silk Road with Marco Polo. He had sought out the astrologer of Kublai Khan who was said to know where the last of the Chinese Dragon Kings was hidden. Alas, it had only been a rumor.
“I’ve been there before, and it has been quite some time,” Merlin replied as he studied the map before him. “But I think we can find our way.”
“We have a meeting every hundred years with the head of the clans of Northern China,” Gwaine answered as he peered closer at the map. “The temple you have marked is well outside of their territory though. They tend to stay closer to where the goji berry grows wild and the snow falls thick on the trail.”
Merlin showed him the second temple he had marked on the map; the one inside the Himalayas that he secretly thought might actually be Shangri-La, or at least a clue as to its location.
“That is within the boundaries of the White Shadow Clan, is it not Sire?” Viorel asked as Gwaine traced the ridge of mountains with his finger.
“It is at that,” he answered as he sat back down to take another sip of ale. “But we are not due to see them again for at least another twenty years. They might take offense at my being in their territory without their permission.”
“True,” Viorel answered. “But you bring no armies or entourage with you Sire. Surely the Mountain Queen will respect that you have not come with ill intent?”
Gwaine snorted.
“Sadly my friend, I think she would rather I did,” he said with a frown.
“Why’s that?” Morgana asked, suddenly not caring much if this Mountain Queen was to be of help to them or not.
“She’s been trying to broker an alliance between out clans for centuries,” Gwaine replied as he swirled his ale inside his mug absently. “Seems to think that the black of our pelts would mix wonderfully with the ‘snowdrop purity of the White Mountain Clans,’ he finished raising his voice high enough to impersonate the queen in question.
“I take it you aren’t interested then?” asked Morgana as Gwaine looked up.
“She may be a fierce warrior as are all her kin,” he replied as he met her gaze. “But the heart blood of my clan beats fierce and free, hers knows only solitude and sorrow.”
“She’s a bit of an ice-queen then is she?” Merlin asked with a lop-sided grin.
“Got it in one, Merlin,” Gwaine replied with a grin. “They spend so much time away from humans, that they have forgotten the duality of our nature. It’s a pity to be sure, for as the beast gives us strength, the human heart gives us hope.”
Merlin shared a knowing glance with Viorel and smiled. It was a well-known fact to those that truly knew him that Gwaine tended to get rather philosophical when he was in his cups. For all that he had matured as a ruler of his people; that seemed to still hold true as ever.
“Right,” Merlin said as he brought them back to the task at hand. “The inscription mentions something about walking the way of the Tao Mountain and seeking the Red Lotus Guardian.”
“It must be Weibao Shan,” Morgana said as she slipped the map closer to her. Reaching for her wine glass she poured a small measure of it onto the parchment and whispered a spell to bring the terrain into relief around the next marker.
As the others watched, mountains covered in mists surrounded by an ancient river sprung up from the parchment as if they were looking down upon them, Morgana raised her hand and the image grew until it was hovering on the table before them.
“Nice work,” Merlin complimented as the goji berries clinging to the mountainside of Weibao Mountain sprung into view. As the mists parted around the mountainside, Morgana waved her hand and the mass of temples littering it sprung up and gave off a soft blue light so that they could be identified.
“But there are so many,” Gwaine complained as over a hundred lights illuminated on the map. “Did the map mention anything else about the location?” he asked hoping for a lead.
Merlin shook his head. “Just a few lines about the waters of the dragon being the key.”
Gwaine frowned. Something about this sounded familiar. During his last visit to the White Mountain Clan there had been a skirmish with the great bears of the frozen north and one of his guardsmen had been gravely injured. The White Mountain Clan’s healer had taken him aside and treated his wounds by having him swallow an elixir she had called the waters of the dragon. They had joked with him on the way home that he had probably drunk ancient dragon piss and Gregori had been angry for days until he had realized that the healer had treated him in a hurry and without any covering. Hearing that they had missed out on seeing the attributes of what was arguably the most beautiful of the White Mountain Clan women; his tormentors had quickly backed off and left him alone.
“It means a dragon well,” Gwaine whispered as he remembered the queen’s reassurance the waters had come from the well of an ancient temple that had been blessed by the ancient dragons themselves.
“A Dragon well?” Merlin asked skeptically.
“It’s a well whose waters were blessed by a dragon,” Gwaine explained. “Not sure if it’s true, but the White Mountain Clan swore that it had healing powers and came from a temple on the mountains below.”
Merlin nodded and passed his hand over Morgana’s map, causing all of the temples without a reference to a dragon or a well to fade.
Only two remained on Weibao Mountain.
“Well it looks like we have our destination,” Merlin said with a grin. “But how are we going to get there? It’s too far to teleport safely, and we only have two days left until the constellation is in alignment.”
“Leave that to me,” said Viorel said as he rose from the table. “I’ll have His Majesty’s private jet primed and ready by morning.” With that he excused himself and left the room.
“Private jet?” Merlin asked raising his eyebrow in Gwaine’s direction.
“Being King does have its perks,” Gwaine shrugged.
This entry was originally posted at http://moonfirefic.dreamwidth.org/50930.html. Please comment there using OpenID.