"I thank you for your compliment of my teaching skills, Cath. It was an honour to guide such a fine young mind as had Merlin Ambrosius, his mother died in my arms, did you know that?" Blaise didn't look at her, but could feel her eyes flit towards him as he spoke.
Cath shook her head, no. Blaise continued, "Aldan, Merlin’s mother, was a deeply spiritual woman as well as quite beautiful. I recall her clothing was certainly of the aristocracy, if not royal. She gave me a small Celtic ring to give to her son, so I’ve always assumed she’d come from Éire or Scotia. She’d been traveling to an abby in Gallia, Aquitania and was attacked and impregnated by a demon on the journey, or so she believed. When she came to me, Merlin was just a babe in arms, only hours old. She showed me the deep furrows on her back from the attack by the demon, or succubus or whatever it was that fathered Merlin. Aldan, subsequently died from an infection from those terrible wounds.”
A small gasp from Cath, "Merlin is demon then? It explains much, Blaisbheum…his power is too great for only human.” She said with awe, her amber eyes wide.
Blaise chuckled, "No, Cath. Merlin is decidedly not 'demon.' In accordance with Aldan’s deathbed wishes, we baptised the boy immediately, thus freeing him from the power of Satan or whatever demonic influence that may have ruled him otherwise.”
Blaise shook his head in wonder as he recalled the day he’d discovered some of Merlin’s unusual talents, “Early in his life, I found that Merlin’s demonic legacy had invested him with a preternatural knowledge of the past and present, and I believe because of his baptism so soon after his birth, that potentially dark magick was augmented by a prophetic knowledge of the future to balance his dark magick with light.”
Cath’s eyes became wide, “Merlin was a powerful mage even as child! Fairy children discover gifts only after their maturity at fifty human-realm years.”
Blaise nodded, “Yes, that is true, but as well as those powerful gifts, I soon discovered Merlin Emrys to have the finest mind I have ever encountered. He seemed to understand physics in a way that no one else, in either this age or in future ages, could come close to. His genius for physics, along with his metaphysical abilities allowed Merlin to transgress dimensions as easily as ordinary folk visit a nearby village.” Blaise chuckled remembering the difficulties he’d had playing hide and seek with Merlin.
Blaise stopped to mop his brow with his hankie, “Merlin adapted to all the sciences as easily as a fairy takes to archery.”
Relating to the example, Cath nodded vigorously, a fairies bow and quiver were gifts bestowed upon them as babies, with archery training beginning before they could walk.
Blaise continued, “As a youngster of only eight summers, Merlin defied the best of Britannia’s scholars by proving their understanding of many scientific beliefs and early physics to be elementary at best or erroneous and potentially dangerous at worst.” Blaise remembered the encounter fondly; seeing the arrogant old scholars taken down a notch by an eight-year-old had been delightfully entertaining.
Cath's brow knitted in confusion, "Why you tell me these secrets of Merlin, Blaisbheum?"
"So you will understand the depth of my love for him, Cath… and why I came to help the villagers. Allow me to finish, I am nearly there.”
Cath nodded silently.
"I taught Merlin Emrys until everything I had to teach him was expended. By the time Merlin was ten years of age, I found I was learning more from him than he from me. It was then that I realised I had exhausted the bulk of the knowledge I had to teach him. Merlin’s voracious mind needed to find other resources to continue his education." Blaise took a moment to take a deep draught from his flask.
"As I was saying, Merlin needed to continue his education, so I took him to the gentle nature druids, dyn hysbys, who lived near here in times past. They taught him the ways of druidry and the magicks of Mother Earth. With them Merlin learned divinations, astrology and the powers of various deities. It was an ideal solution for Merlin's hungry mind, and given his demonic legacy and inherited powers, the druids were a crucial part of his earthly education. But, I’d neglected to give him something critical — he didn't have a families love."
Cath's catlike eyes became round, "So sad, Blaisbheum. Even ignorant fairy children have love."
Blaise smiled, “Yes, and just as they should have. When I realised I'd overlooked so important a part of Merlin’s cultural education, I found the good people of Caerfyrddin. The people who we are helping are his 'family' Cath. They love him as he loves them. The man who's sister-in-law died from exposure to Tylwythen deg Grymuster," Blaise nodded towards the old man walking a few feet ahead of them, "Alun and his good wife, Carwyn took young Merlin in at my behest from the tender age of nine summers. Merlin spent his days with dyn hysbys and his nights with his new family. It was from that point that Merlin really began to prosper; his capacity for learning became even greater with the support of a loving and compassionate family."
"So, that is why I came. When Cador, one of Merlin's childhood friends, came to request my help on behalf of the village, I knew that Emrys would want me to help them, and my love for him made it a priority to me. Understand we’d all believed Merlin Emrys was lost to us forever at that point.” Blaise took another drink from his flask, “And that is why I came; for my love of Merlin and the love these ‘ignorant’ people have for him.”
Cath didn't say anything. Her face was a stony mask as she internalised all that Blaise had told her. Finally, after nearly an hour of thought filled silence, she spoke, "Blaisbheum, I understand this; love pays honour to the giver, even when bestowed on ignorant humans, this I know.” She nodded, clearly pleased with her summation.
Blaise smiled, she was making an effort to understand and he’d made a small step towards achieving better human-fairy relations. Win-win.
Cath had examined and touched every single book, tool and contraption in Emrys’ workroom. At first she’d been a little like a kid in a sweet shop — having been surprised when Blaisbheum had told her she could have free-reign in the crannog, including Emrys prized workroom, but now her interest had waned and she wanted…no needed to return to Fairy.
Cath had already made a quick trip back to the druids cave and had the children safely stored in her pouch. Their essences reduced and held securely in stasis until she was ready to release them as her gift to Queen Aine in Fairy.
Yes…Blaisbheum’s story had affected her, and she’d actually considered telling him about the children, but now that Emrys had wilfully remained gone for so long, she had no choice — she’d need an impressive gift to mollify the Queen’s ire and return to her good graces.
Making a decision, she went to find Blaisbheum.
His snores alerted her to his whereabouts before actually seeing him, he was stretched out with an open book on his lap in front of the smouldering hearth. “Wake up.” Cath pushed his booted feet off the irons where they’d been resting.
“Huh…what?” He said startled and looking around in momentary confusion. Spotting Cath, he straightened in his chair blustering, “Sorry, I must’ve dropped off for a moment. Has Emrys returned?” He asked, looking over her shoulder expectantly.
“No, and that is the problem, Blaisbheum. I have been gone too long, my absence will have been discovered by my soldiers by now. My Queen will be alerted and upon finding the trail of Merlin’s summoning, they will come for me. If you wish to avoid a battle, you should release me from the ward and allow me to return…now.” She spoke calmly, her words resonating with the truth.
Blaise scratched his head, “Something must be amiss. Emrys had planned on only being away with Anna for a short time, he’d should’ve been back long ago.” He stood, gazing out the window at the lengthening evening shadows.
If Cath needed to return to Fairy, as much as it pained him to even consider it — he’d have to accompany her to entreat Queen Aine into dealing with the unstable fairy ring more delicately than Cath had described.
“I w
ill go with you, Cath. I will be trusting myself into your care, and I hope given our new…understanding, you will present me honourably to your queen.”
Her almond shaped eyes widened, “You, Blaisbheum? You would be willing to accompany me to Fairy?” Cath’s shock at his decision had completely surprised her.
Blaise nodded gravely, “I would need your most honourable promise, Cath. As Goddess of War and Captain of the Guard under her Royal Highness of Sidhe, Queen Aine, that you will accompany me faithfully, assure my safe passage into the dimension of Sidhe, and introduce me to your Queen with good grace.”
She bowed before him in the manner of her kind, from the waist and very low, “I agree to your terms, Blaisbheum and it would be my honour to introduce you to Queen Aine as a friend of the Sidhe and Merlin’s early teacher, but even with my most esteemed introduction, I cannot promise how you will be received.”
“You said something earlier today about Emrys, or Merlin as he was known to your Queen, being a favourite in the court, do you still hold with that opinion?” Blaise asked thoughtfully.
“Yes, Merlin was a favourite of Queen Aine, his skills and magicks were a great entertainment to the Queen and her court. Queen Aine wanted Merlin to stay, but she regretfully allowed him his leave after much discussion and pleading. He promised one day to return to us.”
“Umm, I see…has it occurred to you that Emrys, sorry, Merlin’s absence may indicate he has experienced some difficulty? I am quite certain he’d not have remained away this long unless something dire has happened either to himself or Anna.” Blaise began to stuff his pockets with things he would need in Fairy.
“You may be correct, Blaisbheum. If that is so, what would you have us do?”
“If your Queen truly favours Merlin, would she not wish to come to his aid if his teacher requested her help?” Blaise began to weave the charm to release Cath from the warding that prevented her from leaving.
Cath’s brow creased as she considered her response, “We can entreat her majesty, and explain our concerns for Merlin’s wellbeing, but again, I cannot assure how your request will be received.”
She laid her bow and quiver of arrows on Emrys table before continuing, “I do recall, upon hearing of Merlin’s unfortunate dealings with the Naiad, I think she was known to you as Nivane?”
Blaise nodded thoughtfully, “Yes, that was the name of the witch who seemed to mesmerise Emrys.”
“When Queen Aine learned he’d been captured, she tried to effect a rescue, but was unable to enter the dreamweaver’s realm. She even entreated the Goddess of the Realm, Queen Mab for help, but to no avail.” Cath recalled the reason too, Mab was a goddess sister, of sorts, to Nivane, “I tell you this so you will understand her desire was to come to Merlin’s aid once before, and so she very well may do so again. We can do naught but ask.” Cath bowed her head respectfully to Blaise.
“That is enough for me. I thank you for any help you can offer on Merlin’s behalf.” Blaise nodded his head in respect to her.
“Are you ready” Cath asked as she prepared to open a portal into the Sidhe dimension.
Blaise sighed, he’d never imagined a trip to Fairy was in his future, “Yes, let’s go. Wait…” He said noticing the bow and quiver she’d left behind and knowing the value fairies placed on them, he pointed to the table, “You’ve forgotten to stow your weapons, Cath! You’ll not want to leave them behind!”
Cath looked sad for a moment, before she responded, “Yes, Blaisbheum…do not concern yourself, I have many as such as they.” Her eyes looked longingly at her treasured bow and quiver; it was a sacrifice of enormous proportion, but her decision had already been made.
Blaise started to question to her surprising response, but the portal had been called and Cath pulled him through it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Knight Acclon and Nivane
Nivane began her preparation for the druid Elegy of Transference. Bathing her wasted body in the purest of water boiled with herbs and essential oils, she combed her thin hair carefully and tried, ineffectively, to pull it back and into a neat bun.
Stepping into a silken gown that draped over one sagging shoulder and tied with a golden belt, she appraised her image in her mirror. She was still a horror to behold, but she was happy for once. “Not long now and I shall be restored to the glory I deserve.” Her rheumy eyes watery and pale as she looked upon her reflection, she pinched her wrinkled cheeks in an attempt to give them a little colour, and finished by spritzing her neck with jasmine perfume.
Checking the hourglass she’d set, she saw it was nearly time to take Anna to the fairy ring altar.
After so many years of waiting and searching, the fact that her salvation had been inadvertently brought about by the very man she’d blamed for her trouble in the first place, was an irony that was not lost on Nivane. Laughing out loud, she said to herself, “Who knew that Myrddin would be the one to give me back my beauty, I’d have let him out years ago if I’d only known he would be the one to find my dove!”
She had one last duty before the transference rite. Moving to her casting urn, Nivane prepared to summon her sister, Queen Mab, the goddess of the dreamweaver realm. It was due to Mab’s munificence that Nivane had been able to consign Myrddin to his punishment as a dreamweaver, and once Nivane’s human beauty had faded into her currently decrepit condition, it was again Mab who’d come to her aid — by granting Nivane liberty to live hidden in the Dreamweaver Realm. Although, as Nivane looked around her spartan accommodations, it had hardly been a generous boon.
Nivane stood before her casting urn, with her thin arms raised, she began to urge the steam from the bubbling caldron upwards, the rivulets of dense moisture swirling and twirling as she started the Naiad Invocation of Summoning;
“Naiad a tylwyth teg,
Nomad o Iwerddon,
Gwrando fy ple,
Galw yn uchel!”
Naiad and fairy,
a nomad of Éire,
Hear my plea,
I summon thee!
“I fy ngolwg,
a acolyte breuddwyd,
Queen Mab wyf yn galw,
eich clust I swyno!”
To my sight,
a dream acolyte,
Queen Mab I call,
your ear I enthral!
Slowly the dense clouds of acrid moisture solidified into the form of Nivane’s sister deity, Queen Mab.
A tiny figure, no more than the size of a human thumb, sat upon the edge of a waterlily. Her image distorted from the waving steam as well as the movement of the water, she grimaced, “Nivane, I see you’re still trapped within your old human guise, not ageing terribly well are you?” She smiled benignly as she fanned her pretty face with a dragonfly wing, “Perhaps your decision to renounce your duties as a Lake Naiad was ill advised after all.” Mab said pointedly.
“I am shortly to remedy my human form, Mab. And no, I have no regrets other than the one you helped me resolve after my unfortunate experience with Myrddin, of which I will always be eternally grateful.” Nivane’s temper was rising at Mab’s snarky comments, but she carefully kept it in control.
Mab kicked at the water surrounding her lily pad, “I understand he is no longer a dreamweaver — you should have told me, I had to divert his tapestries; dreamers were left unguided.” Her little face twisted into a frown, “You know I allowed him to enter as a favour to you — the weaver I’d planned on using is now long gone. You’ve left me rather at a loss. How is it Myrddin escaped?” Mab’s lips were set in a tight line, which Nivane knew to be an indication of her anger.
Nivane chose her words carefully, “Yes…that is so, Mab - Myrddin did… escape, and I am truly sorry at the inconvenience it caused you, but I have a solution.” Nivane smiled inwardly, yes…she knew just the man to consign to the job; two birds, one stone, so to speak.
Mab feigned disinterest as she rolled onto her tummy to draw little circles with her finger in the still water, “And why,
pray tell, should I feel at ease to again trust your judgement?” She had now chosen to not even look at her sister.
Nivane smiled with satisfaction, she’d not said ‘no’ which meant she was about to say yes, “Because, dear sister, there shan’t be a casting urn in his dreamweavers room, making contact to other dimensions or escape impossible.”
Mab’s delicate features brightened, as she turned towards Nivane’s image, “Well, that is the way it should have been with Myrddin in the first place — a one-way ticket for the honour of living an eternity as a dreamweaver! Can you send the new weaver to my realm with haste?” She rubbed her tiny hands together with glee.
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