The Terror of a Magician

1: Possession

Another day,another execution… thought Arthur as he watched another poor man lose his head. He didn't even pay attention as his father declared a feast in honor of the event. Merlin stood next to him, away from the edge of the balcony. The young man shifted uncomfortably—he always hated seeing these things. Arthur couldn't figure out why the boy couldn't accept that the people Uther executed were evil.Merlin seemed to lament every loss of human life, sorcerer or not.

"Come on, Merlin," Arthur called and his servant followed him like he always did.

"I'm glad I'm not him," Merlin muttered.

"Why do you say that?" Arthur glanced back at him.

Merlin shook his head; his brow was furrowed in that expression he got that made him look older and wiser than he was…or could possibly ever be, considering the profound lack of intelligence Arthur saw in the boy.

"Is everything packed, Merlin?" Arthur changed the subject. He didn't like that expression on Merlin's face.

"Of course," Merlin replied.

"Then let's leave," Arthur started making his way for the stables. They had been about to leave on a hunting trip when Uther had stopped them and made them watch. Arthur had agreed but only for the execution; he wasn't in the mood for a feast.

"Safe trip, Arthur," Morgana called as they passed her in the corridor.

"I'll be back before you can miss me, Morgana," Arthur smiled. Morgana rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry, Morgana, I'll bring him back in one piece," Merlin smiled at her.

"Merlin!"

An hour later they were in the forest surrounding Camelot. Arthur had found the trail of a herd of deer heading east. Merlin shouldered the heavy cross bow and followed after the prince, watching him be stealthy. According to him, the tracks were fresh enough for them to still be in the area.

Merlin shuddered. Something wasn't right. Arthur, of course, was oblivious but Merlin looked through the trees cautiously. A twig snapped behind them, both men whirled around to see a woman in a traveling cloak. Her hood was down revealing grey hair and her eyes were tear-stained.

She looked at Arthur with a rage beyond rage—a cold, corrosive grief filled anger.

When she spoke, her voice was strained, like she was fighting so desperately to stay calm. "That man…" she began, voice quivering in anger "was my son. You killed him, Pendragon." The sorrow in her voice could've moved any man to tears. Arthur, however, was cautious and his hand moved towards his sword. The woman didn't move.

"Your father rarely sees the consequences of his own cruelty. How many families has he destroyed? He doesn't even know; he doesn't know the terror of being a magician, for being hunted for something that isn't our fault. I want you to feel what thousands of people have felt under Uther's reign, Arthur Pendragon," she vowed.

"So you're going to kill me?" Arthur unsheathed his sword.

The old woman shook her head "That wouldn't teach you anything, now would it? If you are to be a good king, you must understand the feelings of all your subjects—even the ones you hunt. Arthur Pendragon, o hyn hyd ddiwedd amser, byddwch yn cerdded yn llwybr hud!"*shouted the woman, her eyes glowing the familiar gold of magic. Usually the glow only lasted a second but this time the gold stayed...and grew brighter and brighter until it left the woman's eyes completely. It shot across the space between them, Merlin tried to stand in front of it, but the witch had named Arthur in the spell, it would only and could only hit him.

The gold light hit Arthur's eyes, causing him to howl in pain. The woman collapsed, dead from the intricacy of her spellwork. When the gold completely engraved itself on Arthur's eyes, he fell to the ground. Merlin ran to his side and helped him sit up.

Arthur opened his eyes; they were blue and bloodshot but for one second, they flashed the magician's gold...

To be continued! I use the Welsh setting on Google translate because Welsh is col; if someone can tell me about something better, I will use it instead. I will also try to include translations.

*Arthur Pendragon, from now to the end of time, you will walk in the path of magic