Lost in Albion 3 (Merlin) - Completed

Chapter 11: Secret Rooms

Chapter 11

"What is it that Gaius wants again?" Merlin asks gruffly. We are walking towards the library, doing chores for Gaius. Well, Merlin calls them chores, but I rather enjoy them. But then again, I don't clean out his leech tank.

"The Bestiary of Phylum of Cambria," I sing. "Really, it's not that hard to remember. It's been a whole five minutes since he told you."

"It's a long name, ok?"

"If you say so."

I open the door to the library, holding in a cough as the room is filled with more dust particles than the rest of the castle. I come here often, though the books aren't fictional, many had legions that may as be such. Geoffrey is at his desk, surrounded by work.

"Yes?" he greets as Merlin and I walk up to him.

"Gaius asked me to fetch a book," Merlin says. "The-er...Be-"

"-The Bestiary of Phylum of Cambria," I cut off, not wanting to hear Merlin's painful attempt again.

"The Bestiary? I haven't seen that for many years." I sigh internally, knowing that it's not going to be an easy find. "It'll be somewhere in the east wing. No idea where!"

"Thank you," I say as Merlin begins walking towards the right. Geoffrey and I frown at him and I cough loudly. Merlin turns, making a gesture of confusion. "This way, Merlin," I say, pointing to the other direction.

Merlin starts walking back towards us muttering, "Yeah."

Merlin follows my lead as I wander around to the east wing. Most of these books haven't been touched in years, their spines covered in dust as though they don't want to be read. I crinkle my nose, noting to myself to let Merlin handle the book.

"I think it's down here," I mutter to the warlock, taking a turn into one of the rows. I let him walk in front of me since I have no further clue where to look and Merlin's eyes are better suited to picking out the title than my own. I think I need glasses if I'm being honest.

Merlin's head falls back as his eyes find something and I follow his gaze. At the top of the bookcase is the book, the title clear even from down here.

"Great!" Merlin cheers dipped in sarcasm. He begins to try and jump for it, but even at his height, he gets nowhere near it.

"We need a ladder," I say to him, looking around for one nearby. There's none, and I turn back to Merlin to tell him to wait but to my astonishment, the warlock has his feet up on the shelves, climbing the bookcase. "Merlin!" I hiss.

One of his limbs must hit a trigger of some sort and the bookcase begins to move. Panicking, I jump onto the turning floor, clinging to the skeleton of the bookcase near Merlin's foot. The revolving bookcase comes to a sudden stop, dust flying off on the impact, landing on my shoulders and head.

Merlin jumps down off the bookcase as I slowly let go of it, looking around the new room.

"You did not just find a secret room," I gasp. I don't even know what in here. It just looks like a bunch of random things, but they've probably been put here for a reason.

"I think I just did," Merlin replies spacey. He glides over to one of the shelves, his fingers tracing one of the books. My own eyes look around, finding an odd sort of sphere. It has inscriptions on it, like a puzzle and a lock on the front of it.

I reach out to pick it up but before my fingers can reach it, Merlin knocks into a heavy box. The box, or rather, what is inside the box moves about. It lets out a low grumble, knocking against the sides.