The arrival of two mysterious strangers to Camelot marks the dawning of a new threat to the great kingdom. Will Merlin, Arthur, Gwen and Morgana find the courage to answer the call? Can they help their new friends to defeat a deadly foe and prove...
Merlin found himself getting distracted very easily as he hurried through the castle and out into the courtyard.
The fact that Gaius had acted in such a relaxed when he'd discovered the Warriors' secret was a huge relief. Less reassuring was the true nature of Raven's condition. Merlin knew that Gaius never tried anything except his best to help a patient in need, but sadly, sometimes, it just wasn't enough. Merlin could only hope that this wasn't one of those times.
Worst of all was the added pressure of Raven's execution. Even if Gaius could save Raven, it would all be in vain unless Arthur could delay the execution. How he would do it, Merlin wasn't sure, but surely, if anyone could do it, it was Arthur?
Somehow, Merlin managed to maintain his composure as he wound his way through Camelot's busy city streets towards the citadel gates. Trying to look as look as causal possible, he passed the guards and then set off along the well-trodden road that led him far away from the kingdom of Pendragon. Time seemed to drag by, but at last, he reached the top of a hill that marked the border of the Camelot.
Filled with new hope, Merlin broke into a run. To tell you the truth, running had never been his strong point, but he never stopped once until he was safely among fresh green woodland: the Forests of Balor. Here, the trees blocked out much of the sunlight and appeared to shield Merlin from the problems that lay ahead within Camelot's city walls. Dewdrops sparkled on every blade of grass. Early morning sunlight played amongst the top-most branches and a feeling of peace seemed to hang in the air.
Merlin granted himself permission to breathe a sigh of relief. Gaius had been quite right. A breath of fresh air was just what Merlin had needed during such a troubling time.
Filled with new hope, Merlin set to work. However, he had hardly had enough time to gather three handfuls of rosemary before the peace was shattered by an ominous CRACK! Merlin started slightly and felt himself tensing up. The sound was much closer than he would have liked it to be.
Breathing hard, he scanned the surrounding woodland, bracing himself to face whatever danger was lurking there. Nothing.
Merlin shook his head in frustration. He was just being silly. It was true that the Forests Of Balor were not all that they appeared to be, but if he could just gather the herbs that Gaius needed, then he could return to Camelot and...
Wait! What was that over there?
Merlin stopped suddenly and stared ahead. Not too far away, a large grove of trees was a brilliant lilac light that seemed to illuminate the greenery around it.
Feeling rather curious now, Merlin crept away from the path and headed towards the light. Hidden brambles tripped him up and twigs caught in his scraggy dark hair, but he barely noticed it. All he could think about was the shining light. He had no doubt that it wasn't natural light: there must be a magical being lurking in the forest, waiting patiently for Merlin to find them. Maybe it was someone who had with a message for him? A message about the upcoming mission to save Raven, perhaps?
Eventually, Merlin reached a slender oak tree which stood alone on a patch of mossy ground. Seconds later, he stopped and stared.
Tucked safely between two short branches, about half-way up the tree, was a wooden staff, painted black and edged with gold. Its tip had been carefully carved into the shape of a raven's head and a transparent stone was set in each eye socket. When the stones caught the light, they shone with a dazzling lilac glow.
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Merlin was awestruck. Clearly, this staff was a highly valuable and magical item. Who did it belong to? He couldn't say, but whoever owned it, he guessed, must be a highly important figure who knew powerful magic.
Then, though he couldn't explain why, Merlin suddenly felt the urge to reach out and touch the staff. As his fingers met the wood, a shock rippled through his hand. It was just as if he had been stung by a nettle. However, the feeling lasted for no more than a few seconds. Instead, it was quickly replaced by a feeling of peace and warmth, unlike anything that Merlin had ever felt before.
Though stunned, he somehow managed to gain a firm grip on the staff and was able to lift it down from its resting place. Before Merlin knew what was happening, he found himself holding the staff close to his chest and staring at it in awe.
CRACK!
The sound rudely jolted Merlin back to the present moment. Alarmed, he spun around, still clutching the staff in both hands.
Seconds later, his blood ran cold.
In the blink of an eye, Merlin had found himself face to face with a shadowy figure- the very same figure who had been responsible for the disturbance earlier.
If you could call it a figure, that is. Actually, Merlin wasn't quite sure what it was, because he'd never seen anything like it. Black and bulky, it seemed headless and towered above Merlin like a shadow that threatened to swallow him up in darkness. Yet, it never spoke or indeed made any sound. All the same, Merlin found himself struck with fear. Somehow, he knew that this creature wasn't friendly- nor was he prepared to take his chances.
Without a word, Merlin staggered on, desperately searching for a means of escape from this terrible creature, even if it meant going back a different way to the route that he had taken to reach the forest. Unfortunately, he wasn't as stealthy as Arthur or indeed any of his knights (he never had been). Instead, Merlin moved with the clumsiness that one associates with a new-born fawn.
Without warning, his foot got caught on a hidden tree route and in a split second, Merlin found himself on the ground, with the creature lurking over him...
