Goodbye Arthur

Chapter 7

Merlin rode quickly for home not paying much attention to where he was going. He was focused on Arthur and his thoughts for the strange and somewhat compassionate prince. Maybe he should forgive him, after all he was under a spell. But then again... he had those feelings somewhere deep within himself. Who was to say that it wouldn't have happened eventually? He wasn't all that confident that he was even able to say that himself.  

After a few long days of riding he reached his home in Ealdor. "He's home," yelled Gwen standing up straight from where she was weeding the garden. His mother hurried out of the house and ran to meet him. 

"Mother," said Merlin sliding off of his horse and hugging her. 

"My dear boy," said Hunith crying. "How I have missed you." The pair walked back to the house and Gwen took his horse off to be watered while they went into the house. "How are you, Gwen told me what happened."

"Mother, Gwen doesn't know what really happened. And I want to keep it that way. She doesn't need to know that..."

"Merlin, my son. You can tell me anything."

"I know mother, I just don't want anyone to know yet. Arthur doesn't even know yet."

"Well you must be hungry after your travels. Let me get you something to eat."

"Thank you mother." Hunith put together a small meal and they sat down to eat when Gwen returned.

"Merlin," said Gwen pulling something out of a bag. "Gaius told me to give this to you."

"What is it?" he asked taking the book from her.

"He said that it would help you connect with your past."

"Well then," said Hunith. "Gwen, lets leave him to his reading. It's almost dark anyway." Gwen nodded and smiled at Merlin who was already looking at the book.

Merlin opened the cover of the book to read the title of the book, A History of the Most Noble and Ancient Houses in Albion. He flipped the page and started reading.

Once there was a young man named Alcar. He was gifted with the power of magic and he traveled far and wide helping with the sick and advising those who needed it in a gentle manor. Once day he came upon a young dragon. The poor thing was wounded and close to death but the Alcar had hope  that young dragon would live. He nursed the young dragon back to health and in return the young dragon took him to the most ancient of the the Dragons. On the cliffs of Mt Mercury lived the Dragon with No Name. The ancient dragon was overjoyed that his only child was rescued and as a reward he gifted Alcar with the magic of the Dragons. 

Alcar then took the white dragon as his symbol and formed the first of the Ancient Houses, the House of Life. Legend has it that all of his descendants were able to use magic since they could walk. Some before that even. They became the first dragon-lords gifted to forever to keep the bond of  human and dragon forever linked otherwise the world would fall into ruin 

A few months passed and he left the area that he was in and left to form a new land. A land of peace and magic. He named it Albion. There he became close friends with a patient man, named Garreth with a wise wife, named Helen. He formed a close friendship and their house soon  became known all over for their diplomacy and compassion. They were the creators of the second house, the House of Balance, and right hand pair of Alcar. 

Helen later told Alcar of a woman, named Raven, who was a skilled healer and was married to a legendary blacksmith. Raven was known throughout the world for being a miracle woman. Her gift was passed down to her descendants who became better known as the druids while her husband's children became famous for all of their skilled craftsmanship. Their descendants became the two branches of the House of Earth. According to legend Raven and Michael, the founder of the House of the Mind, were the parents of Salena who was known throughout history as the Mother of the Druid people. 

Hope was the youngest daughter of  Alcar. She longed to be free of the wold that she was cursed to walk in. One day a son of the goddess Brigid came down to earth and fell in love with her. He took her back home with her with the intent to marry her and make her is queen but Hope wouldn't abandon her family. She persuaded Brigid to convince the other gods to allow her to go back and forth between the land of mortals and the gods. Hope went on to be the mother of the House of Air. The descendants of this house were far and few between. She went on the be the mother of Unicorns and Nymphs. Her human children were rare as it came and there are none in recorded history as the House of Air retreated to the heavens when the houses started to be overturned by invaders. The only know child left of Hope and the Son of Brigid alive is the Queen of the fairies, Queen Mab. The five big houses descents spread throughout the world and had children of their own. Over time they were forgotten and their descents forgot who they were. Legend tells us that when the time is high and the blue moon rises then the House of Life will rise again and bring Albion back to it's former glory.

Merlin closed the book and sat back in his chair staring into the dying embers of the fire. The book had a lot of information to process. Five ancient houses of magic? How was that possible with people like Uther in the world. How is it that goodness and light can stand with so much hate and darkness in the world?

"Merlin?" said Gwen moving though the small house to sit next to him. "What is it?" Merlin sat up straight and gently closed the ancient book in his lap. "Merlin..."

"There are five Ancient Houses of Magic."

"Ok..."

"The Houses of Life, Balance, Earth, Air, and Mind. Well the House of Balance wasn't known for magic.  They were diplomats and strong strategic thinkers, they lead the army for Albion. And the House of Earth was split into two smaller houses. The first were the Druids. The other half didn't have magic as far as the book says, so far that I can tell anyway. They were skilled craftsman and tradesmen. They were the first of the Houses to vanish. The House of Air retreated into the Heavens when the invaders came. It doesn't elaborate much on what happened but that the descendants of the five ancient houses still are out there. I don't know why Gaius gave this book to me but I think that he wants for me to find the ancient houses."

"Go to bed Merlin. I'll read for a while."

"Goodnight Gwen." He got up and left Gwen and the book by the fire. Gwen just smiled after him and opened the book.