20 year old Ariella Morgenstern lost her mother to an evil sorcerer when she was just seven years old, and has had some pain in her heart since, though her father, King Oberon, hates magic, but not nearly as much as King Uther, because of it. Ever s...
I sit next to Gwen, Katherine and Agravaine in the stands during the Jousting tournament later that day.
The rounds flew by and, as expected, Ryder and Eric made it through to the semi finals. Along with Arthur. One rider was hit so hard that he crashed right through the fence, when Lancelot had his round.
I notice that Gwen was especially excited for his match.
I had Naomi bring dinner up for me and Merlin in our room, and she soon leaves to have her dinner. As we were eating, Merlin keeps humming in content as he says, "The chicken is good!" I smile as I eat some chicken after having fed Mira. "Nice broth. What do you know about Necromancy?"
The question was so sudden it caught me off guard and I choke on my chicken, making Merlin blink his eyes a few times. I snatch up my water and drink deeply, before heaving a sigh and setting my goblet down. "What?" I exclaim, shocked.
"Well, you know lots... about lots of things, don't you?" Merlin asks as I continue to stare at him in shock.
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"Necromancy is the most dangerous of all magical practices," I say once I'd finally gotten over my initial shock, seeing the eagerness shining in Merlin's blue grey eyes. "Even in the days of the Old Religion, such sorcery was viewed with the utmost suspicion." Merlin lets out a sigh as he averts his eyes. I lean my arms on the table as I lean forward and ask wearily, "I know I'm going to regret asking you this, Merlin, but why do you want to know?"
What Merlin says next confirms my thought from this morning. He says in a low tone, "I think that someone has raised Lancelot from the dead. I know you don't want to believe it, but..."
I nod my head in agreement as I say, "By "someone," I presume you mean Morgana?" He nods. Sadness glints in my eyes at the thought as I add, "The legends do speak of such creatures. I remember my mother having told me you call them Shades—an undead soul summoned from their rest by the Necromancer's Art."
Merlin asks, "So, it is possible?"
"Even it is possible, we have no way of knowing for sure," I say with a sigh. Merlin leans down and picks up a book from the chair beside his. Sitting it upon the table, I read the title, The Art of Necromancy. I flick my eyes back up to Merlin's face, murmuring thoughtfully, "Or do we?"
I pick Mira up and Merlin and I rush to the Physician's Quarters to tell Gaius what Merlin had told me, and about our plan. Gaius had fallen asleep and Mira was dozing off in her high chair as I help Merlin draw the circle that will detect if Lancelot is a Shade or not.
We clasp our hands once Merlin finishes off the circle and chant, "Onluc tha sothan treow!" It glows orange and we jerk our heads up in surprise when we hear a noise coming from the bed chambers. Merlin and I quietly walk up to the door to see Lancelot putting on his black shirt.
