| Nico | Date: Saturday, 2015/May/30, 10:46 AM | Message # 1 |
 Sunday, December 14th, 2014
Group: Officers
Messages: 69
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| The Warlock's Flame
[The title's meaning will be known by the end of this chapter]
Warning this chapter will contain two different languages; Spanish and Welsh courtesy of Google Translate
I forgot the disclaimer in my rush to write the recent chapters, I do not known PJO/HOO or Merlin they are properties of their respective owners
[For my first review here is the next chapter]
Chapter Three
The knights and the Hunters stood shocked for a moment before all hell broke loose.
The Hunters leader now known as Artemis barked out commands
"Hunters, relieve the knights of their weapons! Phoebe, Thalia bring Emrys to Courtney she will be able to treat his wounds"
There was chorus of "Yes Lady Artemis"
Artemis then walked up to the now disarmed prince of Camelot and his knights as she did her form shimmered and now she looked to be a little younger than Arthur himself.
Now that they had good look at her; the lady was about an inch shorter than Arthur, her hair was auburn and reached down the middle of her back.
Her build was that of someone who was very familiar with hunting, she wore a silver Greek hunting tunic and a matching pair hunter's pants her boots were emblazoned with a drawn bow which the curves when looked at from the right angle looked like a crescent moon.
The most eerie thing about her was her glowing silver eyes, they reminded them of a full moon.
"To answer your previous question prince-ling I am Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt and Moon" the goddess said stunning her captives.
"You're...a...goddess?" the prince stammered incredulously.
"Yes, and you Arthur Pendragon do not know a true friend when he was standing right in front of you!" the lady of the moon seethed glaring at Arthur with burning hatred.
"Now hunters bring these pigs to the camp."
The knights are nudged forward by the hunters and there nasty looking hunting knives.
It took about twenty minutes to reach the camp and when they did the prince and his knights were astounded by what they saw.
There were tents strategically placed throughout.
There was a fire-pit in the center and lead a little ways north of the hearth was the largest tent it was more like a pavilion. They figured it was the leader's tent.
Lancelot was the first to notice a shirtless Merlin lying on a mat with blonde huntress hovering her hands over the stab wound on the warlock's stomach a shimmering golden veil enclosing around the injury.
"You may go over a provide assistance Sir Lancelot" said Artemis gently "I know you are a close friend of his"
Lancelot had heard stories and legends about Artemis and her hunters but he realized now that not all those stories appeared to be true.
"Thank you my lady"
although some the stories weren't true, legends of the goddess' wrath was one thing the knight didn't want to test.
Once the kind knight had left Artemis rounded on Arthur her eerie silver eyes ablaze with fury
"You are the most selfish, arrogant pig of a man I have ever had the misfortune of meeting and that is saying something considering I am related to Aphrodite and Apollo" she snarled fiercely.
Arthur growled in offense
"What of him then!" the prince said gesturing at his unconscious manservant.
"He has lied to me since day one!"
the moon goddess raised an eyebrow
"What would you have him do, you are the son of Uther Pendragon, notorious magic hater and orchestrator of The Great Purge!"
Arthur was shocked as he hadn't thought about that.
"He couldn't be sure how you would've reacted and seeing how you did react you can understand why he hid it"
Artemis gazed a Merlin with an expression one see a lover give her ailing other.
She shook her head and turned back
"Merlin knew what kind of pressure that would bring and did not want to put you in a position in which you would be forced to choose between him and that intolerant piece of filth you call a father"
the young price bristled
"My father did what he had to do, magic killed my mother!"
The goddess scoffed
"No, magic did not kill Ygraine Pendragon; that woman Nimueh did...that wretched daughter of Eris"
All the knights were stunned even more so when Merlin's eyes fluttered open and sat up albeit slowly.
"Thank you Courtney"
the blonde girl smiled and helped him stand up.
"We fixed your shirt too"
Courtney handed Merlin his shirt and he slipped it on and walked over to where Artemis had been lecturing Arthur.
"How do you feel Emrys" inquired the goddess looking at the warlock with concern.
"I am wee bit faint but otherwise I am fine my lady, thanks by the way for helping me"
Merlin gives a short bow in respect, he would've bowed lower but injury on his abdomen still hurt too much.
The warlock looked at his prince still a bit upset with certain comments he made.
"Arthur...how could you think that I of all people would betray Camelot..." he began
"I am not foolish enough to deny that I do have magic but it wasn't my choice, there are two kinds of magic users...those who choose to learn magic are called sorcerers while those like me who are born with the power are called warlocks"
Merlin stopped to allow this new bit of information sink in.
"But then why come to Camelot, the one place that you would be anything but safe!" the prince questioned baffled.
"My mother sent me here to Gaius, hoping he would teach me how to control my magic so I could limit the chances of discovery by accident"
Arthur was stunned Sir Gwaine spoke next
"I always wondered how we managed to get out of nearly impossible situations virtually unscathed and now I know it had been you all those times" the boisterous knight gazed at his magical friend with awe.
"Did anyone aside from your mother and Gaius know?" was Leon's question
"Lancelot found out by accident...remember the griffin incident, I used a spell to empower Lancelot's lance to kill it"
the knights put the rest together themselves Merlin allowed Lancelot to take the credit which resulted in his knighting.
The prince was awestruck, his manservant was a greater man than all of them combined and he never sought recognition or glory he did these things simply because they were the right thing to do.
Merlin was a truly pure soul.
Artemis silently watched the exchange it seemed the prince was not as intolerant as his father, Prince Arthur showed he was capable of learning.
That is what led Artemis to a stunning decision
"I may have been wrong Arthur Pendragon...there may be hope for your kingdom yet"
the lady of the hunt gazed at the fire pit
"Understand, your father has made many transgressions against the gods; many of those children he massacred in The Great Purge that he suspected of magic were not so by their own choice...they were demigods"
Arthur's eyes went as wide a dinner plates
"As in half-divine half-mortal?"
Artemis inclined her head.
"Yes and you made it worse by dishonoring the memory of the one who died in your stead"
Merlin's jaw dropped
"William was a demigod?" he had not know that tidbit of information.
"Wait...he...did tell me once but I didn't believe him"
Artemis gave the warlock a sympathetic smile.
"Yes William's father didn't die at a noble's hand he is a god and Thalia's half-brother."
Merlin caught on he knew that the punkish Lieutenant of Artemis was the legendary Thalia Grace, demigod daughter of Zeus.
"If Thalia was Will's half-sister that would mean Will was a...SON OF ZEUS!"
Arthur and the knights faces drained of color.
"The farm boy who sacrificed himself to save me and keep Merlin's secret was the son of the king of the heavens"
Artemis nodded solemnly.
The prince then remembered what he had said to Merlin the previous night and the guilt almost crushed him.
In a flash Merlin was engulfed in Arthur's arms pulled into a tight embrace.
"I am so sorry Merlin...I was totally insensitive prat...that boy...no man, William was a true friend, your brother as you put it...and what I said...oh gods...what kind of man am I!"
Merlin was stunned but wrapped his arms around Arthur and said
"It's okay Arthur, I forgive you...I won't lie what you said hurt a lot but if you have learned something from this then it was worth it"
Arthur pulled back looking absolutely amazed after all he had done to him, what he said Merlin had forgiven him
"But I wouldn't have blamed you if you hated me"
Merlin gave his characteristic crooked grin
"We are two halves of a whole Arthur, opposite sides of the same coin I cannot hate half of what makes me whole.
"The young manservant was truly remarkable
"Although...if you ever accuse me of enchanting Will again...I will rip your arm off and beat you with it" Merlin added with a smirk.
The knights all laughed, Merlin was back.
Artemis stepped up
"Now that that is out of the way, Merlin I require your aid with a very delicate matter."
They all looked at the goddess
"Come with me"
They followed the godly huntress to a small tent on the edge of the camp.
There situated on the spot was a small tent, with a red tint and flaming hammers were embroidered along the edges.
"Now I have thought of a way for the prince-ling to redeem himself in the eyes of my father, Zeus"
Arthur perked up immediately
"You see I have found a young demigod...however a certain peacock goddess who will remain unnamed is trying hurt this poor boy and I shall not allow it" Artemis spoke urgently.
She then peeked inside the tiny tent Arthur and Merlin followed suit.
There lying atop a red sleeping bag was a little boy staring back at them.
He was a tiny little thing it was hard to tell whether he was two or eight.
He had tan skin similar to Lancelot's tone, slightly pointed elf-like ears and on his head was a mop of unruly jet black hair.
The boy was wearing a brown woolen jacket with a green collared shirt underneath and plain brown trousers that were obvious three sizes too big.
"This is the demigod I mentioned, if I had to guess his parentage; my money is on either Hephaestus, Ares or my shining idiot of a twin, Apollo."
As if on cue the tent is illuminated by a fire-red glow.
Artemis and Merlin recognize it instantly and look to a point just above the boy's head.
There floating and spinning around was the three-dimensional image of a flaming hammer striking an anvil.
The boy looked up and yelped as he thought his hair on fire.
"Lo que pasa es que mi pelo en llamas?" the boy spoke in a language unknown to the knights or Artemis surprisingly.
Merlin smirked he could use this opportunity to get revenge of Arthur for making him walk all the way here, completely drenched.
"Calmate pequeno" Merlin said snickering at the prince dumbfounded expression.
"He speaks Spanish" Merlin informed them.
"A lot of Gaius' books are written in different languages as his eyesight is failing he taught me to read, write and speak them to better assist him."
Gwaine whistled while Lancelot chuckled and shook his head.
"I was unable to learn his name" Artemis said with note of shame in her voice.
"Cual es tu nombre pequeno individuo?" the clever warlock asked speaking Spanish again.
The boy looked up and smiled a truly blinding grin.
"Mi nombre es Leonardo Valdez pero mi mama me llama Leo" he said with literal flames dancing around his head.
Merlin turned to the others
"He said that his name is Leonardo Valdez but we can call him Leo"
Merlin turned back the child now known as Leo Valdez
"Puedes hablar Ingles Leo?"
Leo nodded enthusiastically and took a deep breathe
"My name es Leo Valdez,I am seven years old" he said with a high pitched yet somewhat thick Spanish accent.
Merlin squatted down so that he was on the same level as Leo.
"Come on out here so we can get a good look at you"
Leo nodded and toddled out of the tent.
Once in the light and could be seen fully Merlin melted the little tyke was adorable.
Although he said he was seven, his small size made him look more like he was four.
There was a collective gasp form the Hunters as they noticed the floating red image above Leo's head.
They all bowed and Artemis raised her voice and said in a very authoritative tone
"All hail Leonardo Valdez, The Son of Hephaestus; God of the Forge and Fire"
Merlin picked little Leo up he couldn't resist.
"A son of Hephaestus huh?"
Leo blushed and giggled when the warlock picked him up.
Artemis continued her thought from earlier
"How about to redeem yourself, you help Merlin take care of the son of Hephaestus"
Arthur blanched but then looked over to see Merlin playing with the little demigod.
He was teaching Leo the names of different tools
"This is called a trowel, gardeners use it to dig plants out of the ground and put in to planters like this one"
The prince smiled Merlin looked so peaceful and happy with little Leo sitting next to him playing and learning at the same time"
Arthur didn't need to hesitate in responding
"I don't see why not, Merlin would definitely approve"
Merlin raised his eyes to Arthur's and the prince was even more sure than ever his manservant's eyes were shinning with renewed energy and he didn't want to see it put out.
Merlin knew what Artemis had said to Arthur.
When he turned back to Leo he asked
"Leo, como te gustaria venir a casa con nosotros?" Merlin asked in Spanish hoping the boy would be happy and boy was he ever.
It made Leo so happy his hair literally caught fire.
This shocked them but Leo looked up and patted the flames out
"That happens sometimes" he said blushing.
"Come on then Leo let's introduce to the knights of Camelot"
[Wow to take in a hyper active demigod, oh gods Camelot is in for one wild ride and do you understand the title now]
Nico
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| Karnage | Date: Saturday, 2015/June/06, 8:51 PM | Message # 2 |
 Monday, February 9th, 2015
Group: Forum Visitor
Messages: 281
Status: Offline
| great chapter nico!
Vice Admiral
CFS-Soverign
My name is Karnage, and I cannot safely use a deep frier.
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