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Heavy footsteps pounded against the forest undergrowth, deep breaths echoed in the silence as the cloaked figure ran through the darkness. Shadows flickered under the moonlight, the sound of footsteps and angry cries followed in her stead. The light of torches flickered in the distance, they were gaining on her.
The woods thickened as the ache in her legs grew stronger, she was tiring but the thought of burning at the stake pushed her onwards. She was quick, branches smacking against her legs and catching in her cloak. If she just kept pushing onwards she'd escape - they had to give up eventually.
Merlin
She stumbled at the sound of the voice echoing in her head. It called to her, over and over again.
Run Merlin, Run
Her steps quickened as she attempted to keep her pace, she ran in fear - not only of the villagers gaining upon her but of the voice too. It was deep and steady, calling out her name almost as if it was trying to lead her to safety.
"Who are you?" Merlin cried, stumbling as she lost focus. The rustling of the trees to her left startled once again. She threw a quick glance over her shoulder, emerald eyes catching a glimmer of gold shining beneath the moonlight. A roar bellowed throughout the forest, the trees shook and the earth trembled.
Jump
She cried out, turning to face forward once again as she came to a cliffs edge. Without thought she leapt through the air tumbling forward into the abyss. Her eyes sealed shut in anticipation of the harsh landing until she was met with - sand?
Clenched tightly between her fists, soft beneath her feet was the white hot sand of a far away land.
Am I dead? She wondered eyes raising towards the bright blue sky. The Wyltterness was not known for it's beaches, one would have to travel for months to escape the woodlands. Once you finally escaped the forest and passed through the monstrous exalted plains that's where the ocean lay. It was not a journey for the perilous. She hadn't been running long enough to have reached the edge of Wylltness.
Yet here she was regaining her breath on the warm sands of an unknown beach - the sweet sounds of water lapping against the shore slowly easing her senses. She took in a deep breath before she began to take in the rest of her surroundings. She scanned the beach, jumping in fright once she noticed a lion lounging to her left. The large creature basked beneath the shining sun, eyeing the girl as she scattered backwards. She searched her mind for answers, her mind only settling on one.
Could it be? Was this the great Aslan of Narnia?
"Welcome Merlin, daughter of the old religion - your reputation my dear, precedes you," the lion spoke, bowing his head in salutation.
"How did you? How?" Merlin stuttered, eyebrows furrowing in disbelief.
It was no secret that magic was forbidden in the realm of Wylttness ever since the invasion of the Telmarines. They despised what they couldn't understand, mere talk of the old religion was enough to get you killed. And here on these sands this creature spoke so freely, as if there was no threat at all. She couldn't help but feel angry, how could he speak so easily.
All those people with even the smallest hint of magic in their blood had been forced into hiding for years. Merlin's own mother had died at the hands of the invaders. Their lives were at risk for existing alone.
Merlin had kept her secret well hidden, never once using her magic - her birthright - and even then her safety wasn't guaranteed. One mistake was all it took for her life to be ruined, one mistake was enough to be trialed and hunted.
"I know of many things my child," he told her, "I know of you and your destiny - of your hope that your people will once again be free and that the land of Wylltness will belong to the druids once more"
"Then my eyes do not deceive me, you are the great Aslan - true King of Narnia," Merlin stated as she rose to her feet, her head held high.
"That is one of my many names and titles, yes" he nodded, "I sense your anger"
"My people are innocent, we deserve to be free - not hunted and killed as if we are monsters," she told him indignantly. She had a right to be angry.
"Your people will be free when all is put right, when Prince Caspian the tenth sits upon the throne the children of the old religion will be free once more - it is in your destiny my to ensure this happens"
"My destiny?"
"Your destiny dearest Merlin..."
⋆
Lucy Pevensie woke with a start, the essence of her dream still playing on her mind. Lucy was known for her rampant imagination even as she grew older yet, she couldn't help but feel as if the dream was incredibly real. Her eyes flickered about the room, a futile attempt in hope of having returned to Narnia. Sadly she was still in Finchley.
Lucy's mind drifted to memories of her time in Narnia and the peculiar dream. She couldn't seem to remember ever knowing of a land called Wylltness, nor had she ever heard of the children of the old religion. Who was the girl in the dream? Was she real? Or maybe Lucy's longing for Narnia was just going to her head.
Lucy's eyes suddenly became heavy as she rested her head upon her pillow once again. She yawned softly, eyes fluttering shut as the memories of her dream slowly faded to grey. A soft mumble was the last thing to escape her lips before tiredness took over and Lucy was fast asleep once again.
"Merlin"
// I'm really obsessed with the tv show Merlin (I've been re-binging it during quarantine) so I got really excited when I came up with this idea.
