Chapter Twenty-Eight, Kin

As she weaved through the Lower Town with a protective hand over the back of Hope's head holding her four month old daughter to her chest; she finally arrived at the tavern.  After a quick talk with Tomas, the barkeep and owner, over the health of his wife Helen and himself, Merlyn was finally climbing the rickety stairs to the all too familiar room. Knocking sharply on the thick wood with her knuckles Merlyn shifted from foot to foot soothing Hope while she waited.
"Who is it?" A shaky voice called from within.

Pushing the door ajar Merlyn popped her head round with a soothing smile on her painted lips.
"It's Merlyn and Hope." Merlyn announced, the smile still on her face as she stepped into the small room that had two twin beds against the south wall close to the door, two desks against the east, and the west and north facing walls had side tables topped with candles and the contestants belongings, along with three mattresses that were also against those walls. So there were around five people sharing one tiny room, and perched nervously on one mattress facing the door was Gilli. "I've come to see how you are." Merlyn informed kindly.

"I'm fine." Gilli responded tersely. "It's a lot better." He added more kindly.
"Can I have a look?" She asked, concerned. "I'm training as a Physician under my uncle."
"There's nothing to see." Gilli's terse attitude returned, pulling his 'wounded' shoulder closer to him.
"How you fought earlier, that was amazing!" Merlyn praised.
"Really?" Gilli asked eagerly.
"Yes. I'm sure some are going to think you're using magic." Merlyn said seriously, sending him a reproachful look but it was also full of understanding.

"I'm not going to tell anyone." Merlyn reassured him, noticing his fearful expression.
"I'm not using magic." Gilli lied. Merlyn sighed, plucking the ring from a pouch in her belt; catching Gilli's attention.
"It bears the mark of the Old Religion." Merlyn mused, assessing the ring, before she threw it to its rightful owner. "Where did you get it?"
"My father." Gilli responded. "He left it to me when he passed."
"I'm sorry." Merlyn apologised, sympathy coursing through her veins. "Did he have the same powers as you?"

"He was a gifted man, but he would not touch magic." Gilli explained heartbrokenly. "He vowed never to use it because he feared it. He wouldn't even let me talk about it."
"Why?" Merlyn asked in a whisper, clutching Hope closer to her as her childhood in Ealdor flashed passed her eyes.
"He was scared Uther would find out. That the King would discover he was a Sorcerer and that we would both be executed. Even when he was attacked by three much larger men than he; still he wouldn't use magic. Didn't even defend himself." Gilli explained woefully.

"But I'm not going to be like him." He swore with conviction.
"Because you want to be proud of who you are?" Merlyn asked rhetorically, not that Gilli understood; not yet anyway.
"Why all these questions?" Gilli demanded, confused.
"You remind me of someone I know." Merlyn responded cryptically.
"Who?" Gilli demanded.
Merlyn was silent as she debated the best way to get through to Gilli and if she should reveal herself and her daughter.

Looking down at Hope who was now awake and beaming at her mother, Merlyn smiled tenderly back as she carefully extracted Hope from the sling, sitting her on her knee; she'd made her decision.
"Me." Merlyn whispered, but in the stillness of the room it was heard clear as a bell. Gilli who had been watching her reverently waiting for an answer had not been expecting that answer and was shocked into a stupor.
"You?" He gasped, eyes wide.

"Yes. I was born with magic and what you just described was as if you'd described my life. I never knew my own father, I met him briefly before he was killed, but he had magic. He was a DragonLord, which I am now. It runs in my family. Uther drove him away with his attempts to kill my father so he left to protect my mother and I. But my mother feared - still does - what could happen to me and now, I know how she felt." Merlyn whispered, holding Hope close as if she feared someone would come and separate the mother and daughter.

"I've heard stories -" Gilli's eyes widened to the size of saucers as he realised something. "You're Emrys!" He gasped. "Hope was born with magic as well, wasn't she?" He questioned, coming closer to the two Mages.
"Yes and everyday I fear we will both be caught. She can't control it as she's so young. Like myself, she was levitating things within an hour of being born. And since becoming pregnant I've got to relearn control. I don't want her to have the lonely life I've lived, that you and countless others have.

I want her to be a child, to have friends and to not have to fear what she is, but be proud." Tears were running down both Merlyn and Gilli's cheeks. Merlyn raised her hand - closed fist - to her lips and whispered quieter still, "Forbearnan!" Opening her fist, revealed a small flame in the centre of her palm. Hope giggled, clapping her hands excitedly. She looked from the flame, to her mother, and back again as her eyes flared a bright gold causing blue butterflies to appear all around the room.

"So, you see I know what it's like. It's lonely to be more powerful than anyone you know and have to live like a shadow. To be special and have to pretend you're a - a - a fool. I know how it feels. I understand and I'm not asking you to apologise for who you are. You may not want to be like your father, but as a parent I understand his and my mother's fears; however, I don't want that life for my daughter! I can't even tolerate the way we are now, but I have to. For Hope I have to, at least until Arthur becomes King and brings about Albion where we will be free. But for now, you need to withdraw otherwise you'll expose yourself and get killed."

"But so what if Uther is killed. It's time those with magic fought back. How many of our kin have died at his hand? How many more will?" Gilli ranted, ignoring all Merlyn has just said.
"Gilli, you need to learn to use your magic for good, that is its true purpose. It's not to be used for your own vanity!" Merlyn snapped angrily.
"You can pretend you're less than them! Play a servant but -"
"That's not what I do!" Merlyn snapped.
"Isn't it? You're defending and protecting a man who would have you and your baby dead!" Gilli shouted, striking a core within Merlyn.

"I'm protecting you! Protecting my daughter!! You really think that if everyone sees the King killed by magic that they won't retaliate and hunt us all down!" Merlyn shouted, causing Gilli to actually pause, but a second later it passed.
"It's time someone struck a blow for the likes of you and me. And as you can't without putting your daughter at risk, I understand that she's your first priority, then I will." Gilli insisted, storming from the room leaving Merlyn in turmoil.

***

The first discussions with Gilli had been hard and hadn't gone over too well. But Merlyn was determined she would save her Kin especially after how he nearly revealed himself during the fight with Uther today and therefore her and Hope; and that made her angry. He'd put them all at risk with his reckless and anger filled actions. However, she couldn't truly blame him. As she weaved through the Lower Town with a protective hand over the back of Hope's head holding her four month old daughter to her chest; she finally arrived at the tavern.

"I'm sorry. I didn't have a choice." Merlyn apologised, as she entered Gilli's rented room.
"You did what you had to do." Gilli responded coldly. "And you betrayed your kind." He spat spitefully.
"No." Merlyn snapped, rounding on him. "No, that was you. You betrayed us. You put yourself, me and my daughter at risk. Not to mention my husband, uncle and mother." She hissed coldly. "You'd won, but you were going to kill the King anyway." Merlyn scoffed, disappointed, causing guilt and disappointment at himself to surge within Gilli. He hated that tone and that look from Merlyn.

"There's no honour in that." Merlyn continued. "Come on, Gilli! Look inside yourself, you're better than this. I know you're better than this, and you know it too. Magic is not meant for fighting. It's not meant to bring you glory." It seems, finally, finally she'd gotten through to him.

"I never understood my father. I thought that he was afraid of magic, but he wasn't. He was afraid of what it could do. How it can corrupt. I know now that he was - he was strong." Gilli realised, as a tender kinship blossomed between the two, as their magic connected on a sibling level. Taking a leap of faith, Merlyn passed Hope to Gilli, the baby who had been reaching for the man. And there were only a handful within Camelot Hope felt both happy and safe around.
"Well, he was stronger than me." Gilli added sadly, allowing the baby to play with his fingers.

"The important thing is how you've passed this test. You've got past the anger and the greed. You can allow yourself to use your magic to help others now." Merlyn comforted him.
"Thank you Merlyn and I'm sorry. Truly." Gilli apologised, sighing he passed Hope back to her mother, grabbing his bag as he stood from the bed. Merlyn copying his actions.
"I know what I told you before doesn't seem like it now, but one day magic will be permitted once again, I promise. When that day arrives you'll no longer have to hide who you are. Your gifts will be recognised. And we - we will be free." Merlyn muttered reverently, full of excitement.

"Who knows, maybe - maybe then our paths will cross again." Merlyn added.
"I hope so." Gilli murmured hopefully.
"Oh, I know we will as we're Kin." Merlyn assured him confidently.
"Kin." Gilli revered, not used to family anymore. "I promise you Merlyn, I will repay you. If you ever need help I will come, as you said, we're Kin." Gilli swore, their magic and the Magick of the Earth holding him to his vow. With a hug the three parted ways; at least for now.

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Spell translation:

* Forbearnan: To consume by fire/to set fire to/burn up.