Merlin: Fate Be Changed

The Eye of the Phoenix, Part 3

  Back in Camelot, Merlin and Gaius had flipped his chambers upside down in hopes of finding a book that might have even a clue as to what the hell that bracelet was. Unfortunately, they were running out of options. "I'm not sure I know where else to look, Merlin," Gaius exhaled. "There has to be something," Merlin stated, refusing to give up.

  "We've examined every stone imaginable," Gaius countered. Then something struck his memory. "Unless..." he made his way over to the shelf Merlin was examining and grabbed a book from one the lower levels and began flipping through the pages until he found what he was looking for. "Merlin," Gaius turned the book around so Merlin could see. Merlin's face lit up with recognition. "Gaius, that's it!"

  The sorcerer jumped off the ladder and he and his mentor read what the book said about the bracelet. "That is not a stone, Merlin. It's an eye of the Phoenix," the old physician stated, voice filled with worry. "The Phoenix?" Merlin wondered in curiosity. "Some call it the firebird. It's eye burns with a fire that consumes the life force of anybody it comes in contact with," Gaius explained.

  "Arthur," Merlin said in realization. "The eye will draw energy from him. If it's worn for too long, Arthur will die," Gaius informed. "I have to go after him," Merlin replied. "Merlin, this is not a task to be undertaken lightly. You'll need help," Gaius reasoned. Merlin thought about this for a moment before remembering something he'd seen on one of Arthur's maps.

  Mercia.

  Arthur would have to go through Mercia in order to reach the Perilous Lands. However, there was something else, too.

  Gwaine was in Mercia.

  And suddenly an idea formed in Merlin's head. A wonderful, stupid, insane idea.

  Merlin was riding his horse out of the gates just as the sun was beginning to set on Camelot. 'Onward to Gwaine.' he thought. 'Then to save Arthur's sorry arse.'

***

  Later that evening, Morgana sat in her chambers and was creating a likeness tether of Arthur. When she finished wrapping the cord around the tether, she held the head over and lit a candle and watched it burn; a smile creeping onto her face. Then her eyes glowed a hellish yellow as she bound the ashes of the tether to Arthur.

  And at the same time as this, deep in the forest, Arthur had set up a campfire and propped himself up against a log and drifted off into sleep. He didn't notice that the bracelet glow an eerie shade of orange under the thick canopy of the trees.

  Morgana smirked again, however it was very short-lived because, at that moment, Gwen opened up the door to her chambers making her jump up out of her chair and whip around to face her handmaiden. "What is it now?" Morgana griped. Gwen was shocked because Morgana had never spoken to her like that.

  Remembering her words, she said, "I just wanted to see if there was anything you needed." "No, get out," Morgana clenched her jaw. The handmaiden was turning to leave when she caught a whiff of something peculiar. "Is something burning?" she turned back towards her mistress. "I said, get out!" Morgana snapped.

  Now, Guinevere was astounded by Morgana's sudden attitude, but nevertheless, she left Morgana in peace and exited the witch's chambers, closing the door after her. She only lingered for a moment with one thought in her mind, 'Why the hell was Morgana behaving so strangely?'