Chapter 4
This may go on longer than anticipated methinks. Still, enjoy
The years passed, kings fought and kingdoms fell but Camelot grew in strength under King Uther. His ban on magic had been maintained for 20 years although, there had recently been a few instances of sorcery and several of them had been aimed at Prince Arthur.
Arthur had grown into a strong and handsome young man. Just and true and the most formidable fighter Camelot had seen since his father was a young man. His father continuously placed a lot of pressure on Arthur, moulding him into a king. Because of this, the young Prince was prone to, well, to being a prat.
People who knew him, however, had noticed a marked improvement in his behaviour since the arrival of his outspoken and often clueless manservant, Merlin.
True to her word, Hunith had sent her son to Camelot in his twentieth year and Gaius had taken him in. Despite a somewhat unfortunate first meeting resulting in a night in the dungeons followed by a day in the stocks for Merlin, the young warlock had risked exposing his magic to save Arthur from an assassination attempt by an old crone seeking revenge for the execution of her son. This had been rewarded by King Uther with a position in the royal household as Prince Arthur’s manservant.
Over time, the two young men grew in respect for each other and were as good friends as their stations allowed.
Viviane waited, passing the time in Avalon, strengthening her powers for a time when she would once again be needed to play her part. She had not seen of heard of Nimueh in a long time and never chose to venture into the mortal world to find her.
She had heard that her younger sister had returned to Camelot to seek Uther’s pardon. He had refused this but had spared her from execution because of her relationship to Igraine. He had, instead, exiled her and her companions from his court, promising her no such mercy were she to try to return.
Nimueh fled and hid, avoiding any chance of meeting with her sister or anyone from Avalon. Her anger grew and twisted into hate, the desire for revenge growing strong within her. Many plans came to her of ways to orchestrate the downfall of Camelot and the ruination of her sister’s plans. This activity soon came to Viviane’s notice and she decided that something must be done before her sister succeeds.
Nimueh moulded the clay and placed it into the egg. She sent the unborn Afanc into the water and it travelled to the well beneath Camelot. She smiled as her mirror revealed to her the egg hatching.
The water in the basin rippled, rupturing the image in the mirror. Nimueh looked up, sensing other, more powerful magic, and came face to face with Viviane.
“Using an Afanc to cause a plague in Camelot, how inventive.” Viviane ran her hand through the water, watching the ripples. “If I didn’t know better, Nimueh, I’d swear you were working against me.” She looked up at her sister. “But we both know how foolish that would be.” Nimueh smiled manically.
“Kill me then, and solve all your problems.”
Viviane sighed and looked at her sister with pity.
“Now why would I want to do that dearest?”
“You had no qualms about killing Igraine, or Tristan!” Nimueh scoffed. Viviane winced slightly but recovered, smiling.
“Technically, it was Uther who killed Tristan,” she said.
“But you don’t deny killing Igraine…”
“Well, as I recall my dear, it wasn’t actually I who handed her the chalice and bade her drink. But I don’t deny my part in it.” They stood in silence for a moment, the air thick with tension.
“If you know what I’ve done,” Nimueh said eventually, “then why aren’t you trying to stop me?” She eyed her sister up suspiciously.
Viviane pondered the question carefully for a moment, staring into the surface of the mirror.
“I suppose I should stop you. I mean, there’s the danger that, should you succeed, this plague might spread into the royal household, to Arthur.” She fell silent again as an idea came to her. “However,” she continued after a moment, “if I let this play out, it might be a good chance to test them.” Nimueh narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brows at her sister’s musings.
“Test who?” she said.
“You will see.” Viviane smiled menacingly. “I must thank you for making things so very easy for me sister.” She looked up at Nimueh, holding her gaze firmly. “Mark my words. Whether by my hand, or another’s, you will be stopped Nimueh. I’m just sorry to see all this effort going to waste.” She began to fade away. “You always were a very promising priestess. Such a shame.”
With that, she vanished, leaving Nimueh confused and a little concerned.
**************
The Great Dragon lazily opened one eye and watched as Viviane materialised on the stone ledge.
“You’re late,” he said simply, closing his eye again.
“I would like to remind you who you’re speaking to lizard,” she said. “Gods it’s dark in here.” She uttered and incantation and a bright blue ball of light appeared and hovered before her, illuminating the vast cavern.
“Do you mind?” the dragon drawled.
“Not at all,” she said and folded her arms watching him.
“You do know there’s a torch just beyond that door that’s always lit.”
“And….?”
He sighed and, opening his eyes, stretched himself out before settling back down and meeting her gaze.
“I take it, by your countenance and late arrival, that you have been to see your sister.”
“I did.” Viviane sighed and sat down, crossing her legs. “She’s created an Afanc and sent it into Camelot’s water supply.”
“An interesting idea,” the dragon commented softly.
“Hmmm, yes, so it would seem. The Afanc will now create a plague in the city that could wipe out half of Camelot within a matter of weeks if she is not stopped.”
“This is not news to me My Lady,” the dragon said, eyeing her up, so there must be another reason you have come here.” Viviane frowned.
“This could be the perfect chance to test Arthur, and especially Merlin. Their time is fast approaching and they need to prove that they are ready for what the future holds. Now I know that Merlin already looks on you as an advisor of sorts, an oracle if you will.” The dragon chuckled at this.
“Does he now?”
“Yes, and you know you enjoy it,” Viviane joked.
“So, you want me to “guide” Merlin to finding a way of defeating the Afanc, and thwarting your sister?”
“In a word, yes. Well done.” The dragon seemed to consider this. “So, will you?” she prompted.
“I can only guide Merlin to a path on which the truth lies. Whether or not he can locate the light in the darkness will depend upon the keenness of his eyes.”
Viviane furrowed her brows and pursed her lips.
“Well that’s just maddeningly unhelpful,” she said. The dragon laughed.
“There is more of you in young Emrys than just your magic,” he said. “Yes, I will give him my help, if he asks for it.”
Viviane sighed in relief and stood up.
“Thank you.” She hesitated for a moment.
“Yes My Lady?” the dragon asked, amused.
“Just a little question, quite daft really but…” she sighed. “What’s he like? Merlin, I mean.”
The dragon chuckled softly and cast his memory back to his last meeting with Merlin.
“He’s a good man and wise for his years, which can be a burden as much as a blessing. He is very powerful, even now and his power is instinctive, just as yours is. He’s not afraid to speak out and will always do what he feels is right, regardless of the consequences to himself, which can make him a bit bumbling at times, in a rather sweet way.” Viviane smiled at the affection in the dragon’s voice when he said this. “I also feel he is growing quite fond of our dear Prince Arthur, though he won’t admit it.”
Viviane started a little at the mention of her nephew’s name. The dragon picked up on this as smiled softly.
“What’s he like?” she asked. The dragon had no doubt to whom she was referring.
“He’s everything a Prince and heir should be. Handsome, brave, a skilled fighter. However, he is, as Merlin so delicately puts it, a prat.” Viviane snorted in laughter at that and the dragon smiled.
“Just like his father then,” she said. She sighed deeply as she straightened up. “And now, I must take my leave.”
“Farewell My Lady.”
“Until next time dragon,” and with that, she vanished.
The dragon laughed softly to himself before flying off to a distant ledge to catch up on some sleep and await Merlin’s next visit.
Viviane returned to Avalon and sent messengers to Camelot to inform her of progress. She learnt that Merlin had discovered the creature and had teamed up with Arthur and the Lady Morgana to destroy it. The threat was over and Camelot was saved from the evils of magic again by a Pendragon, or so Uther would tell it. The fact was that Camelot had been saved from magic, by magic. The irony of it tickled Viviane. She observed Nimueh’s anger closely and waited with bated breath as she attempted to kill Merlin with a poisoned chalice. Tempted as she was to intervene, she refrained and listened with great pride when told by her strongest seers how Arthur was prepared to risk his own life to save his servant and friend.
Nimueh was once again thwarted by the combined efforts of Merlin and Arthur and she vanished from sight.
After time, Viviane relaxed, thinking her sister had given up on her attempts at revenge.
But she was by no means done.
The years passed, kings fought and kingdoms fell but Camelot grew in strength under King Uther. His ban on magic had been maintained for 20 years although, there had recently been a few instances of sorcery and several of them had been aimed at Prince Arthur.
Arthur had grown into a strong and handsome young man. Just and true and the most formidable fighter Camelot had seen since his father was a young man. His father continuously placed a lot of pressure on Arthur, moulding him into a king. Because of this, the young Prince was prone to, well, to being a prat.
People who knew him, however, had noticed a marked improvement in his behaviour since the arrival of his outspoken and often clueless manservant, Merlin.
True to her word, Hunith had sent her son to Camelot in his twentieth year and Gaius had taken him in. Despite a somewhat unfortunate first meeting resulting in a night in the dungeons followed by a day in the stocks for Merlin, the young warlock had risked exposing his magic to save Arthur from an assassination attempt by an old crone seeking revenge for the execution of her son. This had been rewarded by King Uther with a position in the royal household as Prince Arthur’s manservant.
Over time, the two young men grew in respect for each other and were as good friends as their stations allowed.
Viviane waited, passing the time in Avalon, strengthening her powers for a time when she would once again be needed to play her part. She had not seen of heard of Nimueh in a long time and never chose to venture into the mortal world to find her.
She had heard that her younger sister had returned to Camelot to seek Uther’s pardon. He had refused this but had spared her from execution because of her relationship to Igraine. He had, instead, exiled her and her companions from his court, promising her no such mercy were she to try to return.
Nimueh fled and hid, avoiding any chance of meeting with her sister or anyone from Avalon. Her anger grew and twisted into hate, the desire for revenge growing strong within her. Many plans came to her of ways to orchestrate the downfall of Camelot and the ruination of her sister’s plans. This activity soon came to Viviane’s notice and she decided that something must be done before her sister succeeds.
Nimueh moulded the clay and placed it into the egg. She sent the unborn Afanc into the water and it travelled to the well beneath Camelot. She smiled as her mirror revealed to her the egg hatching.
The water in the basin rippled, rupturing the image in the mirror. Nimueh looked up, sensing other, more powerful magic, and came face to face with Viviane.
“Using an Afanc to cause a plague in Camelot, how inventive.” Viviane ran her hand through the water, watching the ripples. “If I didn’t know better, Nimueh, I’d swear you were working against me.” She looked up at her sister. “But we both know how foolish that would be.” Nimueh smiled manically.
“Kill me then, and solve all your problems.”
Viviane sighed and looked at her sister with pity.
“Now why would I want to do that dearest?”
“You had no qualms about killing Igraine, or Tristan!” Nimueh scoffed. Viviane winced slightly but recovered, smiling.
“Technically, it was Uther who killed Tristan,” she said.
“But you don’t deny killing Igraine…”
“Well, as I recall my dear, it wasn’t actually I who handed her the chalice and bade her drink. But I don’t deny my part in it.” They stood in silence for a moment, the air thick with tension.
“If you know what I’ve done,” Nimueh said eventually, “then why aren’t you trying to stop me?” She eyed her sister up suspiciously.
Viviane pondered the question carefully for a moment, staring into the surface of the mirror.
“I suppose I should stop you. I mean, there’s the danger that, should you succeed, this plague might spread into the royal household, to Arthur.” She fell silent again as an idea came to her. “However,” she continued after a moment, “if I let this play out, it might be a good chance to test them.” Nimueh narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brows at her sister’s musings.
“Test who?” she said.
“You will see.” Viviane smiled menacingly. “I must thank you for making things so very easy for me sister.” She looked up at Nimueh, holding her gaze firmly. “Mark my words. Whether by my hand, or another’s, you will be stopped Nimueh. I’m just sorry to see all this effort going to waste.” She began to fade away. “You always were a very promising priestess. Such a shame.”
With that, she vanished, leaving Nimueh confused and a little concerned.
**************
The Great Dragon lazily opened one eye and watched as Viviane materialised on the stone ledge.
“You’re late,” he said simply, closing his eye again.
“I would like to remind you who you’re speaking to lizard,” she said. “Gods it’s dark in here.” She uttered and incantation and a bright blue ball of light appeared and hovered before her, illuminating the vast cavern.
“Do you mind?” the dragon drawled.
“Not at all,” she said and folded her arms watching him.
“You do know there’s a torch just beyond that door that’s always lit.”
“And….?”
He sighed and, opening his eyes, stretched himself out before settling back down and meeting her gaze.
“I take it, by your countenance and late arrival, that you have been to see your sister.”
“I did.” Viviane sighed and sat down, crossing her legs. “She’s created an Afanc and sent it into Camelot’s water supply.”
“An interesting idea,” the dragon commented softly.
“Hmmm, yes, so it would seem. The Afanc will now create a plague in the city that could wipe out half of Camelot within a matter of weeks if she is not stopped.”
“This is not news to me My Lady,” the dragon said, eyeing her up, so there must be another reason you have come here.” Viviane frowned.
“This could be the perfect chance to test Arthur, and especially Merlin. Their time is fast approaching and they need to prove that they are ready for what the future holds. Now I know that Merlin already looks on you as an advisor of sorts, an oracle if you will.” The dragon chuckled at this.
“Does he now?”
“Yes, and you know you enjoy it,” Viviane joked.
“So, you want me to “guide” Merlin to finding a way of defeating the Afanc, and thwarting your sister?”
“In a word, yes. Well done.” The dragon seemed to consider this. “So, will you?” she prompted.
“I can only guide Merlin to a path on which the truth lies. Whether or not he can locate the light in the darkness will depend upon the keenness of his eyes.”
Viviane furrowed her brows and pursed her lips.
“Well that’s just maddeningly unhelpful,” she said. The dragon laughed.
“There is more of you in young Emrys than just your magic,” he said. “Yes, I will give him my help, if he asks for it.”
Viviane sighed in relief and stood up.
“Thank you.” She hesitated for a moment.
“Yes My Lady?” the dragon asked, amused.
“Just a little question, quite daft really but…” she sighed. “What’s he like? Merlin, I mean.”
The dragon chuckled softly and cast his memory back to his last meeting with Merlin.
“He’s a good man and wise for his years, which can be a burden as much as a blessing. He is very powerful, even now and his power is instinctive, just as yours is. He’s not afraid to speak out and will always do what he feels is right, regardless of the consequences to himself, which can make him a bit bumbling at times, in a rather sweet way.” Viviane smiled at the affection in the dragon’s voice when he said this. “I also feel he is growing quite fond of our dear Prince Arthur, though he won’t admit it.”
Viviane started a little at the mention of her nephew’s name. The dragon picked up on this as smiled softly.
“What’s he like?” she asked. The dragon had no doubt to whom she was referring.
“He’s everything a Prince and heir should be. Handsome, brave, a skilled fighter. However, he is, as Merlin so delicately puts it, a prat.” Viviane snorted in laughter at that and the dragon smiled.
“Just like his father then,” she said. She sighed deeply as she straightened up. “And now, I must take my leave.”
“Farewell My Lady.”
“Until next time dragon,” and with that, she vanished.
The dragon laughed softly to himself before flying off to a distant ledge to catch up on some sleep and await Merlin’s next visit.
Viviane returned to Avalon and sent messengers to Camelot to inform her of progress. She learnt that Merlin had discovered the creature and had teamed up with Arthur and the Lady Morgana to destroy it. The threat was over and Camelot was saved from the evils of magic again by a Pendragon, or so Uther would tell it. The fact was that Camelot had been saved from magic, by magic. The irony of it tickled Viviane. She observed Nimueh’s anger closely and waited with bated breath as she attempted to kill Merlin with a poisoned chalice. Tempted as she was to intervene, she refrained and listened with great pride when told by her strongest seers how Arthur was prepared to risk his own life to save his servant and friend.
Nimueh was once again thwarted by the combined efforts of Merlin and Arthur and she vanished from sight.
After time, Viviane relaxed, thinking her sister had given up on her attempts at revenge.
But she was by no means done.