A Herald of a New Age

Chapter four. Approaching Choices

|an| quick note,

This: -+++- is for a change of PoV, but not necessarily a change of time

This: -+-+- is for a change of time but not PoV.

Got it? Good. Okay, this is the first big sorta chapter, I hope it's good. Um, if anyone was wondering what's happening with Elyan- don't worry, I got stuff planned. :)
. |an|

The Druids were little in the way of welcoming, Arthur thought as he lay he head atop his small pillow under the stars, but then, they were hardly unwelcoming either.

Merlin, having by chance, lead them into the settlement, had dismounted his horse well outside the camp and-sensing the gesture's importance- Arthur and the Knights followed suit. Somehow, as they walked into the camp, the Druids seemed to have indeed, known they were coming. That banished the suspicions of Merlin lying about the how he had sensed them, which Arthur had sensed was a lie. Everything from Merlin seemed like a lie these days and Arthur still couldn't shake the word 'traitor' from his mind. That overheard conversation had haunted him these past few days and if Merlin was a traitor, Arthur reiterated to himself, atleast he's with us, and not in Camelot, with Agravaine.

Another thing that Arthur had noticed as they had entered the sea of eyes was that they were not trained on the party in fear, but more in awe. Maybe it was the fact that they had actually found them in this secluded forest, or the fact they somehow knew that Arthur had come to make peace. However Arthur began to doubt these suspicions when he had noticed that all eyes were on a particular member of the group, one who had self consciously fallen into the middle of the group, a manservant who had miraculously guided the way.

Of course, he had been the one to disturb the Druids magic shields or whatever it was that made them so blastedly difficult to find, so they would naturally look at Merlin first- Arthur was at first surprised that they didn't attack outright, but he reminded himself hastily that the Druids were a peaceful people. So long as they were allowed to practice their beliefs they would not stray to the dark of magic. Right?

He's got the wrong idea

Merlins words stung in his head again as the King recalled the awkward moments as he and the Knights awaited the arrival of the elders who had moved to the front of the crowd, at an irritating leisure. They had said- and Arthur remembered to take note of each action and word-

"We have been expecting you. We gather you wish to talk, and not to fight this time, young Pendragon, and,"

There was a pause in which Arthur noticed the elder on the left, as there were three, eyes dart behind Arthur and swiftly return to his face, as if nothing had happened. Arthur recalled having been about to turn around to see what the elder had glanced at when all too soon the pause was over and the Druid in the centre continued,

"Emrys," he said.

Emrys. One word with obviously a greater meaning as it caused a ripple in the crowd. Emrys. Emrys! Where had he heard it.. Emrys? Emrys.. He ran it through his mind, even whispered it to test it on his lips, but nothing came. And yet he felt a connection to the word. He had passed it off as the Druid on the right explained that it was far too late to talk, and that two of the Druids- a boy and a girl who rushed forward neither eagerly or with resent- would escort them to a suitable place to bed down for the night.

Whilst the Knights had whispered hurriedly for an hour after they were left on the far side of the camp- Arthur noted the fact that they were not guarded as a sign of trust or a sign that the Druids were sending the message of "you simply don't stand a chance if you tried to attack"- Merlin said nothing.