Warriors of Camelot

Chapter 21: An Astonishing Revelation

Behind Gaius' back, Gwen and Merlin exchanged amazed glances.  Merlin could not describe the relief that he'd felt to know that Gaius would help Raven, but the fact that he knew Raven Of Old...well, that something that that neither of them had been expecting. How was it possible? He couldn't say. 

"Gaius?"

He glanced up and gazed expectantly at Gwen. Her dark brown eyes were narrow in confusion. 

"What do you mean?"

The old physician threw her a beautiful smile. "It's a long story, Guinevere," he replied simply. 

"Aye," chimed in Raven Of Old, as he rose to his feet. "Gaius and I first met one another in Camelot many years ago, Guinevere..."

"...in a time before Uther banned the practise of magic in his kingdom," added Gaius softly.

This news stunned Merlin. No matter how many times he had begged his mentor to tell him what life was like in Camelot during a time when dragons ruled the skies and sorcerers could practise their magic without fear of persecution, Gaius was having none of it.  Still, Merlin couldn't stop day-dreaming about the times before magic was banned in Camelot. It must have been such an exciting time, when sorcerers and sorceresses roamed every street and the faint chanting of a spell could be heard on the softest summer's breeze. How he longed to live in a land like that, where he could be the great wizard that he was destined to be without fearing what his master- or indeed, anyone in Camelot- might say or do if they discovered his secret! Still, he'd had to put up with living in a very different time, where magic was feared by all- and here was his guardian- who perhaps feared more than Merlin himself about what would happen if anyone else discovered his magic powers- speaking so freely about Camelot's past without being prompted.

 Gwen was equally astounded. After all, she had been brought up to believe that magic could only be evil and her personal experiences with various dark forces were proof of that. Yet, at one time, people believed that magic could be used for good deeds. What's more, if the Ravens' presence in Camelot was anything to go by, then maybe, just maybe, those kinds of sorcerers still existed? After all, young Raven had come to Camelot with a purpose: to help the people of Camelot through a dark period. Gwen couldn't remember the last time she'd met a sorceress- or a sorcerer, for that matter, who wished to use their powers to help those in need. Uther didn't see that in Raven, though.  In his mind, magic only had one purpose: to usurp his throne and it was this belief that he'd installed on the people of Camelot for as long as Gwen could remember. Only now was she beginning to question just how true that really was. After all, how did Uther know that magic was only evil? Gwen guessed that she would probably never know the answer to that question.  What she knew for certain was that Raven had been wrongly accused of a crime that she didn't commit and she needed their help- even if it meant going against Uther's orders.

Right now, young Raven was huddled up in a far corner of the dungeon, with her gaze cast downwards. Splashes of mud plastered her dark skin and clothes, glistening rain-drops hung in her dark curls and heavy chains encased both hands. Gwen's kind heart reached out to her. After her own experiences in the dungeons not too long ago, she knew all too well exactly how Raven was feeling right now. 

Raven Of Old was also gazing at young Raven and presently, he heaved a deep sigh. 

"I sense that Camelot is not once it once was..."

 He wasn't looking at Gaius, but somehow, the old physician sensed that it was him who Raven Of Old was talking to. He nodded grimly but seconds later, Raven Of Old's face suddenly brightened. Now, he turned slowly round so that he was face to face with Gaius. 

"...and yet, Gaius, I do sometimes wonder if change can be reversed as easily as spells," Raven Of Old continued.

"What do you mean?" whispered Gaius, stealing a quick glance over his shoulder as he spoke. Like Merlin and Gwen, he was all too aware of the dire consequences that anyone in Camelot faced when it came to talking about magic  behind the guards' back.