Post by scribbliz on Aug 19, 2012 20:12:35 GMT -5
Hi all, this is a concept for a novel that I have in my head. Please note, names are NOT final....for example, right now, the main mail character is called "Bob" this is NOT his name, but I couldn't come up with one. The main character is "Kateraina" and I will probably keep that one. The two groups are currently called "Merlin's Minions" (bad guys) and "le Faye's Forces" (good guys) but that's mostly so I know what group I'm talking about.
please also note, this is NOT a story, this is a concept for a story, so there will be ALOT of telling and very little showing; It is probably very very poorly written but again, it is just the concept. This way, when I ask for advice, you'll have a general idea of where I am going and what I envision.
FUTURE OF FLAMES
THE CONCEPT
History: (this probably will come out gradually through the story, but may end up as a prolog…I think throughout the story will be better, and then should I choose to, I can write a prequel later)
Morgan le Faye was Sidhe. So was Merlin. Over time Merlin began to believe that humans and Sidhe could not co-exist. He found Arthur as a child, and started to believe that humans have more right to earth than the Sidhe. He created a realm specifically for the Sidhe; it was a place of wonder, beauty and enchantment. He called it a refuge, but Morgan le Faye saw it for what it really was, a prison. No Sidhe who entered it could ever leave again. Morgan began to work to protect the Sidhe who wished to remain on Earth. She made certain all Sidhe knew it was a prison they could never leave. As she fought to protect them, more and more Sidhe flock to her side. The more Sidhe followed her, the stronger Morgan became; she eventually became a queen and gained immeasurable power. Merlin grew in strength too, as he convinced more and more Sidhe that they needed to leave. He drew strength from the humans who followed Arthur too. A war breaks out across the land. It appears to be Arthur and Morgan le Faye, but in truth, Merlin is her enemy. Merlin’s Minions round up any Sidhe they find, they feel that all Sidhe must be banished from Earth, and that all who refuse to go are “evil”. Le Faye’s Forces believe that the Sidhe deserve freedom, and have as much right to dwell on earth as the humans do. Morgan le Faye saw how the war would end…with the complete destruction of the world. The Sidhe, and the humans, would likely all end up dead. She created a plan. She could protect the Sidhe under her care. She started with the weakest of the Sidhe, the young and the ones whose magic was nurturing in nature, and not offensive. She cast a spell that sealed them away, locked into a casket of ice. No simple fire could melt this enchanted ice; the spell required was one only Morgan herself new. She cast the spell on as many Sidhe as she could, and as the loved and trusted their queen, the Sidhe allowed her to do so. They trusted that they would wake to a new, safe world when the time was right. She wove the spell that would awaken them, so that she could bring them back, healthy and whole. Morgan chose several of the strongest Sidhe to become Guardians; they would guard the Dreamer through their long wait. Morgan and her daughter would remain as well, with the spell to awaken them known only to them and two others. Yet, as she began to implement this plan, Morgan’s daughter, Madeline, became pregnant. It would make things more difficult, but not impossible. They continued to cast the spell on more and more Sidhe, and Merlin’s Minions continued to advance. As Madeline’s time drew near, Merlin launched an attack. He was at the castle gates, held back only by protective spells. Morgan and Madeline began to cast spells to scatter the caskets of ice around the world. They would be held in groups in caverns and caves. Two Guardians would be sent with each group. As they sent the final group, a prophecy was heard. The child Madeline carried would be a daughter of Power. Her natural abilities would be incredible. She could not be hidden; her strength would call to all other Sidhe. Morgan le Faye’s granddaughter would either be the cause of the world drowning in flame, or she would find her own Guardian and would bring peace to the world. But her Guardian would not be found in this time or place. Morgan realized the only way she would be able to protect her granddaughter would be to seal her daughter in a casket of ice like the others. At the moment of prophecy, Merlin broke through the castle’s outer defenses. As the spells were breached, Madeline began labour. There was no more time. There would be no way to hide or protect this child. Morgan cast the spell to seal her daughter away. A guard entered the room, and informed Morgan the others who knew the awakening spell were deal. Morgan cast another spell; it transferred her strength and power, the power of being queen to her unborn granddaughter. When the child reached puberty, she would hear her grandmother’s voice, and would have access to spells that only her grandmother knew. As Merlin himself walked into the room, Morgan cast a final spell; the spell to hide her daughter….
History: possibly a prolog:
A team of archeologists unearth Morgan le Fay’s daughter, still sealed in her casket of ice. Some of them can read enough of the inscription to see that there is a chance she is still alive. They use modern science to remove her from the ice. As she wakes she immediately goes into labour. However, because she was woken through science, and not the spell her mother wove, Madeline is weak. She is able to give birth to a daughter, but dies before she can name her. The archeologist who helped birth her is suddenly able to read the ancient language in the letter Madeline holds. It tells him this infant is the granddaughter of Morgan le Faye. It tells him of the power contained in her, and that her death will unleash a flame that could destroy the world. He also learns of the prophecy, that this Daughter of Power will either end the world in flames, or usher in a paradise. It warns of others (Merlin’s Minions) who will want to control the child. The letter states that Madeline and Morgan le Faye fear for the child’s safety; they fear that the others will hurt her. There is an attack within hours of the child’s birth; a spell is cast that sends the others to their instant deaths. Yet, the archeologist holding the child is safe. He flees with the infant, and somehow is not seen. Through bribery and blackmail, the archeologist manages to adopt the girl, who he has named Kateraina, and takes her home to raise her. He and his sister live together in Canada, and they both love the child. By the time she is a toddler, she can converse in an ancient Sidhe language. As though by magic, the archeologist knows the language too (it was passed to him, as he helped birth the child). She can also heal minor surface wounds (cuts, scrapes, burns) in herself, others, and even on animals. By this age, they have also seen that Kateraina cannot be burned by fire. By the time she is five, she displays the ability to control fire. She can manipulate fire, and can call fire to her hands from the air. Kateraina seems to take great joy in manipulating fire, and does so often. However, a couple of months later, there is an attack. Merlin’s Minions found them, through Kateraina’s use of Power. The archeologist’s sister is killed in the battle, but again, the archeologist and Kateraina escape. They flee into the countryside, and begin to travel. They don’t stay in any place for more than a few days, as Merlin’s Minions are close behind them. Over time Kateraina learns to control her abilities and the threat of being found is lessened. Kateraina grows up isolated, not able to trust anyone except the archeologist.
Almost Current: (Just Before The Story! Or possibly the first section of the book)
Kateraina celebrates her 15th birthday with the archeologist it an inn in a small town. They spend the night there, but somehow during the night, they are found. She is asleep at the time, and the archeologist is killed. She is drugged and taken captive. She is thrown into a cell. The drugs they give her allow her to take care of her basic needs (ie, she can eat the drugged food they give her) but she cannot think properly. She cannot plan, nor think logically. It also increases her level of fear. She is kept this way for some time; then they begin to ask her questions about le Faye’s Forces and what Morgan le Faye’s plans are. When she cannot answer (she really has no idea) she is hurt. It gets bad. After weeks of this treatment, something starts to change. She starts to hear a constant hum in her head. It’s a vibrating buzz, a din roaring in her ears. Behind this din, she also hears her grandmother’s voice. She learns what it means to be the granddaughter of Morgan le Faye, and how her grandmother had tried to protect her people. Her grandmother’s voice keeps insisting that she wake the Dreamer, but she cannot hear why or how. She looses all track of time and gradually Merlin’s Minions loose interest in her as they begin to believe she knows nothing.
As time passes she withdraws into herself until she can hid herself with the voice of her grandmother, behind the wall of noise and static. She will not acknowledge those who bring her food, nor will she see those who still hurt her on occasion. She no longer cries out from pain, or fear. She will eat but only when she is alone, and offers no response to anyone or anything. She simply exists, in the curse of the Fae that refuses her the relief of madness.
Current: (The Story Begins Here….either that or this is simply a new section/chapter)
Bob is assigned to guard a new prisoner. He has been a warrior for eons, and is one of the best. But since they Sidhe must stay hidden from the world, there are no wars he can fight. Not that he is sure the Sidhe should be forced to leave. But he was born here, among Merlin’s Minions. The Forces of le Faye would never welcome such as he. So, he is reduced to guarding prisoners. Because that is a good use for his abilities…he shakes his head as he walks on.
He brings his meal to the girl they have locked in a tiny cell. At first glance, he believe she is human; she is covered in scars. Sidhe don’t scar unless they receive so much damage that their body simply cannot heal it all. They must be near the point of death to scar. As he sets the tray on the floor near her, he feels the raw power surrounding this girl, and realizes she is Sidhe; Bob cannot even imagine the pain she must have endured to carry those scars. He also realizes she is incredibly young. To his knowledge no Sidhe outside Merlin’s Minions have given birth to young in over a millennium…young are too hard to hide. And even among Merlin’s Minions, it has been well over three centuries since any were born. Yet, this girl feels like she is barely in her teens? Her spells should just barely have begun to form. How was this possible? He leaves her cell, but instead of returning to his guard room, he simply sits on the floor outside her cell.
He can hear it when she starts to eat. After she is done he returns to gather the tray. She is once again in the corner, as far from the door as she can get. She is curled into herself, facing away from the door, and her long dark hair hides her face. He talks quietly to her as he gathers her tray, but she makes no response. He returns to his place outside her cell door. After days of this, and days of getting no response, he falls asleep outside her cell and wakes to the sound of her screams. Bob jumps to his feet, and opens her cell door to see she is asleep. He is unable to wake her, so returning to his place outside her cell, he uses his innate power to enter her dreams.
What he saw there was beyond anything he could imagine. He saw her surrounded by faceless blurs, the way someone on the drugs would view attackers. They are taking turns hurting her, and asking her questions that she can barely comprehend. The pain they are inflicting is beyond anything she should be able to endure. Suddenly the dream changes, as the girl sits up; her eyes are darker, and her voice deeper, as she casts a spell. Flames burst from her, and drive the attackers back. Yet the flames don’t stop, they consume the ones hurting her. They burn the buildings, then scorch the ground and sky. The flames that burst from the girl, consume the world in fire. Finally the flames fade, and the girl looks at the empty sky in front of her. In agony she cries out; and he can hear her in his head. “What have I done? “ She screams. “I wanted them to stop. I didn’t want the world gone. I don’t want to be alone!”
Bob calls to her, and she turns in shock. She has had this nightmare before and cannot understand how he is still alive. Even though she is facing him, he cannot see her face. It is hidden by her hair and the shadows. They talk for a while, and then he wakes. Over the next few days, this repeats. She will not acknowledge him while awake, but in her dreams he slowly starts to gain her trust. After weeks of this, word comes down that the Inquisitor has returned and is going to start “questioning” the girl again. Bob knows he cannot allow this. He cannot understand how anyone could harm a child for being unable to answer questions she does not have the answer to! One night, he tells her she needs to wake up; she doesn’t want to. She wants to talk to him. He tells her she has to, that he is going to take her out of the cell. When they wake, she remains unresponsive, but allows him to guide her from the cell. They escape to a cabin that he assures her is safe. It is deep in the wilderness and he places wards around them.
Over time, the drugs start to leave her system. In her nightmares, she becomes stronger, able to fight back against those who would hurt her. Yet they still end with the flames. She also remains unresponsive in real life. She will not speak to him, nor will she look at him. He spends his days caring for her physical needs, and at night he continues to meet her in her nightmares. They start differently, but they all end with the flames consuming the world. One night, she tells him that there is supposed to be something more…something is supposed to happen after the flames. She isn’t meant to be alone. There are supposed to be many, many others. She has to find them, but she is afraid.
After several months they are found. Merlin’s Minions attack. They break through the wards, and Bob prepares to fight. He is stronger and faster than the Minions, but there are 7 of them. He fights, and for a time it seems he will win, but they outnumber him, and one knocks him back. As he hits the ground, he sees a blast of fire soar over him, knocking Merlin’s Minions back. A barrier of flames separates them from him. As he looses consciousness he hears a voice from behind him say “No one touches him. I need him so I’m not alone with the fire.”
SWAP POINT OF VIEW…NOW KATERAINA
Kateraina hears a noise like the screaming of a tree, and realizes the wards here have collapsed. The others have found them. Kateraina cannot understand why they keep coming back. The noise and static in her head rise to a din, but she still hear the fighting. She cannot hear her grandmother’s voice over the noise; She cannot hide with her grandmother. She moves quietly and she can see them attacking him, the one who saved her. Bob is the only reason Kateraina is not alone, and she watches while he fights. There are so many of them, but it seems as though he is winning. But a sudden blow knocks him down and she knows he will die. But the fire of her childhood floods her once more, and she uses it to push the attackers back. The she calls the flames to protect her, creating a barrier between the attackers and them. As she does so, she walks towards Bob saying, “No one touches him! I need him, so I’m not alone with the fire.” As Bob passes out, a single spell bursts out of the static in her head. She casts it without thought and every one of the attackers falls to the ground unconscious. She remembers how to heal, and reaches down to place her hands on Bob’s head. It is the first time she has reached for anyone since her father died.
He wakes, sees her face for the first time, looking down at him in concern. He reaches up and brushes a hand along her cheek. She doesn’t recoil, and she reaches to help him stand. They make their way out of the cabin, and he learns that so long as he is touching her the flames surrounding her will not hurt him. They travel constantly, not staying in any one place for more than a night…sometimes leaving in the middle of the night. Bob begins to teach Kateraina how to control her Power. He teaches her that she can cycle it through herself to keep it from calling to other Sidhe. As they travel she finds more and more spells coming to mind; the first time a spell is there, it thrusts itself from between her lips, forcing her to speak it. It is always useful, always what they need, and once spoken, it is hers forever. She can call it to mind whenever she chooses. Bob is surprised by how much she knows. So she explains to him that she is Morgan le Faye’s granddaughter and that her grandmother cast a spell that transferred her spells, her power as queen, to her. She tells him the history that her grandmother taught her, and tells him of the prophecy spoken before she was born.
Bob tells her about Merlin’s Minions, and why they are after her. He learns that she is twenty, and that she was a prisoner for over five years. As they travel, gradually drifting north, Bob teaches Kateraina how to fight. They spar every night after they build camp. She improves quickly and they continue to travel, growing closer together.
Kateraina constantly pushes them north, for some reason she feels pulled in that direction. After a year an a half, on the day Kateraina turns twenty two, they find an empty cavern. They can find nothing in or around the cave, but Kateraina knows this is where she is meant to be. Suddenly a spell comes to mind, and she casts it. A passageway in the back of the cave opens. They follow it and come to a cavern filled with over a dozen ice caskets. Bob is amazed. There had been rumors of Sidhe that had slept for millennium, Dreamer that Morgan le Faye had hidden.
A spell of flame starts to burst from Kateraina, but before she can finish they are attacked. The spell shifts to the barrier spell she cast before, and she holds the attackers back. They demand to know what she and Bob are doing in the chamber of dreamers. She explains a little of why she is there, but before she can say who she is, Bob demands to speak to the Guardian of the dreamers.
They are escorted to the Guardian, and Kateraina and Bob explain who she is, and why she has come. The Guardian, Tereasa, casts a spell to allow her to see the truth of those before her. She immediately recognizes Morgan le Faye’s power in Kateraina, and pledges her loyalty. However, she is unsure of Bob as he was born to Merlin’s Minions. With the spell of truth seeing, Tereasa asks Bob where his loyalty lies. He states that he has long questioned the belief of Merlin’s Minions, but didn’t want to be alone. He vows his loyalty to Kateraina. Kateraina says she will go nowhere without Bob, as he is the only reason the flames aren’t unbearable. Tereasa sees the truth of this. She will allow Kateraina to wake the Dreamers, but she begs Kateraina to wait two weeks to awaken the Dreamers. The two weeks will allow them to cast protection spells so the power of the awakening does not draw Merlin’s Minions. Kateraina and Bob agree this is a good idea.
After two weeks, Kateraina casts the spell to awaken the Dreamers in the cavern. Her flames melt the ice, and the Dreamers wake, whole, and healthy. They see Kateraina and recognize her grandmother’s power in her. They each pledge their loyalty to her, and she in turn pledges to do all in her power to protect them. She tells them, however, that she cannot stay too long, as there are other Dreamers to seek out. The spell has drained her, however, and it takes her time to recover. During this time, Bob and Kateraina learn much of the history of the Sidhe, and the history of the war. Bob and Kateraina are welcomed as family.
Yet, despite the welcome, Kateraina will talk to no one unless Bob is with her. She is withdrawn still. Most believe it is simply because she is drained from the spell. Before they can learn otherwise, Kateraina begins to feel restless. She is feeling drawn to the east, towards the rising sun. She and Bob leave less than a month after the Dreamers were woken.
They travel from place to place, meeting what Guardians they can and waking the Dreamers they find. Each time they Dreamers pledge their loyalty and most of the Guardians do too (there will be a section talking about one that didn’t) and each time, they are welcomed as family. Yet, every time, Kateraina and Bob move on after less than a month as they are still being sought by Merlin’s Minions.
Their travels and the battle or reconciliation with Merlin’s Minions will probably be in a second book, and I may do a prequel for the story of Morgan le Faye. I will also go more in depth in the relationship between Kateraina and Bob.
please also note, this is NOT a story, this is a concept for a story, so there will be ALOT of telling and very little showing; It is probably very very poorly written but again, it is just the concept. This way, when I ask for advice, you'll have a general idea of where I am going and what I envision.
FUTURE OF FLAMES
THE CONCEPT
History: (this probably will come out gradually through the story, but may end up as a prolog…I think throughout the story will be better, and then should I choose to, I can write a prequel later)
Morgan le Faye was Sidhe. So was Merlin. Over time Merlin began to believe that humans and Sidhe could not co-exist. He found Arthur as a child, and started to believe that humans have more right to earth than the Sidhe. He created a realm specifically for the Sidhe; it was a place of wonder, beauty and enchantment. He called it a refuge, but Morgan le Faye saw it for what it really was, a prison. No Sidhe who entered it could ever leave again. Morgan began to work to protect the Sidhe who wished to remain on Earth. She made certain all Sidhe knew it was a prison they could never leave. As she fought to protect them, more and more Sidhe flock to her side. The more Sidhe followed her, the stronger Morgan became; she eventually became a queen and gained immeasurable power. Merlin grew in strength too, as he convinced more and more Sidhe that they needed to leave. He drew strength from the humans who followed Arthur too. A war breaks out across the land. It appears to be Arthur and Morgan le Faye, but in truth, Merlin is her enemy. Merlin’s Minions round up any Sidhe they find, they feel that all Sidhe must be banished from Earth, and that all who refuse to go are “evil”. Le Faye’s Forces believe that the Sidhe deserve freedom, and have as much right to dwell on earth as the humans do. Morgan le Faye saw how the war would end…with the complete destruction of the world. The Sidhe, and the humans, would likely all end up dead. She created a plan. She could protect the Sidhe under her care. She started with the weakest of the Sidhe, the young and the ones whose magic was nurturing in nature, and not offensive. She cast a spell that sealed them away, locked into a casket of ice. No simple fire could melt this enchanted ice; the spell required was one only Morgan herself new. She cast the spell on as many Sidhe as she could, and as the loved and trusted their queen, the Sidhe allowed her to do so. They trusted that they would wake to a new, safe world when the time was right. She wove the spell that would awaken them, so that she could bring them back, healthy and whole. Morgan chose several of the strongest Sidhe to become Guardians; they would guard the Dreamer through their long wait. Morgan and her daughter would remain as well, with the spell to awaken them known only to them and two others. Yet, as she began to implement this plan, Morgan’s daughter, Madeline, became pregnant. It would make things more difficult, but not impossible. They continued to cast the spell on more and more Sidhe, and Merlin’s Minions continued to advance. As Madeline’s time drew near, Merlin launched an attack. He was at the castle gates, held back only by protective spells. Morgan and Madeline began to cast spells to scatter the caskets of ice around the world. They would be held in groups in caverns and caves. Two Guardians would be sent with each group. As they sent the final group, a prophecy was heard. The child Madeline carried would be a daughter of Power. Her natural abilities would be incredible. She could not be hidden; her strength would call to all other Sidhe. Morgan le Faye’s granddaughter would either be the cause of the world drowning in flame, or she would find her own Guardian and would bring peace to the world. But her Guardian would not be found in this time or place. Morgan realized the only way she would be able to protect her granddaughter would be to seal her daughter in a casket of ice like the others. At the moment of prophecy, Merlin broke through the castle’s outer defenses. As the spells were breached, Madeline began labour. There was no more time. There would be no way to hide or protect this child. Morgan cast the spell to seal her daughter away. A guard entered the room, and informed Morgan the others who knew the awakening spell were deal. Morgan cast another spell; it transferred her strength and power, the power of being queen to her unborn granddaughter. When the child reached puberty, she would hear her grandmother’s voice, and would have access to spells that only her grandmother knew. As Merlin himself walked into the room, Morgan cast a final spell; the spell to hide her daughter….
History: possibly a prolog:
A team of archeologists unearth Morgan le Fay’s daughter, still sealed in her casket of ice. Some of them can read enough of the inscription to see that there is a chance she is still alive. They use modern science to remove her from the ice. As she wakes she immediately goes into labour. However, because she was woken through science, and not the spell her mother wove, Madeline is weak. She is able to give birth to a daughter, but dies before she can name her. The archeologist who helped birth her is suddenly able to read the ancient language in the letter Madeline holds. It tells him this infant is the granddaughter of Morgan le Faye. It tells him of the power contained in her, and that her death will unleash a flame that could destroy the world. He also learns of the prophecy, that this Daughter of Power will either end the world in flames, or usher in a paradise. It warns of others (Merlin’s Minions) who will want to control the child. The letter states that Madeline and Morgan le Faye fear for the child’s safety; they fear that the others will hurt her. There is an attack within hours of the child’s birth; a spell is cast that sends the others to their instant deaths. Yet, the archeologist holding the child is safe. He flees with the infant, and somehow is not seen. Through bribery and blackmail, the archeologist manages to adopt the girl, who he has named Kateraina, and takes her home to raise her. He and his sister live together in Canada, and they both love the child. By the time she is a toddler, she can converse in an ancient Sidhe language. As though by magic, the archeologist knows the language too (it was passed to him, as he helped birth the child). She can also heal minor surface wounds (cuts, scrapes, burns) in herself, others, and even on animals. By this age, they have also seen that Kateraina cannot be burned by fire. By the time she is five, she displays the ability to control fire. She can manipulate fire, and can call fire to her hands from the air. Kateraina seems to take great joy in manipulating fire, and does so often. However, a couple of months later, there is an attack. Merlin’s Minions found them, through Kateraina’s use of Power. The archeologist’s sister is killed in the battle, but again, the archeologist and Kateraina escape. They flee into the countryside, and begin to travel. They don’t stay in any place for more than a few days, as Merlin’s Minions are close behind them. Over time Kateraina learns to control her abilities and the threat of being found is lessened. Kateraina grows up isolated, not able to trust anyone except the archeologist.
Almost Current: (Just Before The Story! Or possibly the first section of the book)
Kateraina celebrates her 15th birthday with the archeologist it an inn in a small town. They spend the night there, but somehow during the night, they are found. She is asleep at the time, and the archeologist is killed. She is drugged and taken captive. She is thrown into a cell. The drugs they give her allow her to take care of her basic needs (ie, she can eat the drugged food they give her) but she cannot think properly. She cannot plan, nor think logically. It also increases her level of fear. She is kept this way for some time; then they begin to ask her questions about le Faye’s Forces and what Morgan le Faye’s plans are. When she cannot answer (she really has no idea) she is hurt. It gets bad. After weeks of this treatment, something starts to change. She starts to hear a constant hum in her head. It’s a vibrating buzz, a din roaring in her ears. Behind this din, she also hears her grandmother’s voice. She learns what it means to be the granddaughter of Morgan le Faye, and how her grandmother had tried to protect her people. Her grandmother’s voice keeps insisting that she wake the Dreamer, but she cannot hear why or how. She looses all track of time and gradually Merlin’s Minions loose interest in her as they begin to believe she knows nothing.
As time passes she withdraws into herself until she can hid herself with the voice of her grandmother, behind the wall of noise and static. She will not acknowledge those who bring her food, nor will she see those who still hurt her on occasion. She no longer cries out from pain, or fear. She will eat but only when she is alone, and offers no response to anyone or anything. She simply exists, in the curse of the Fae that refuses her the relief of madness.
Current: (The Story Begins Here….either that or this is simply a new section/chapter)
Bob is assigned to guard a new prisoner. He has been a warrior for eons, and is one of the best. But since they Sidhe must stay hidden from the world, there are no wars he can fight. Not that he is sure the Sidhe should be forced to leave. But he was born here, among Merlin’s Minions. The Forces of le Faye would never welcome such as he. So, he is reduced to guarding prisoners. Because that is a good use for his abilities…he shakes his head as he walks on.
He brings his meal to the girl they have locked in a tiny cell. At first glance, he believe she is human; she is covered in scars. Sidhe don’t scar unless they receive so much damage that their body simply cannot heal it all. They must be near the point of death to scar. As he sets the tray on the floor near her, he feels the raw power surrounding this girl, and realizes she is Sidhe; Bob cannot even imagine the pain she must have endured to carry those scars. He also realizes she is incredibly young. To his knowledge no Sidhe outside Merlin’s Minions have given birth to young in over a millennium…young are too hard to hide. And even among Merlin’s Minions, it has been well over three centuries since any were born. Yet, this girl feels like she is barely in her teens? Her spells should just barely have begun to form. How was this possible? He leaves her cell, but instead of returning to his guard room, he simply sits on the floor outside her cell.
He can hear it when she starts to eat. After she is done he returns to gather the tray. She is once again in the corner, as far from the door as she can get. She is curled into herself, facing away from the door, and her long dark hair hides her face. He talks quietly to her as he gathers her tray, but she makes no response. He returns to his place outside her cell door. After days of this, and days of getting no response, he falls asleep outside her cell and wakes to the sound of her screams. Bob jumps to his feet, and opens her cell door to see she is asleep. He is unable to wake her, so returning to his place outside her cell, he uses his innate power to enter her dreams.
What he saw there was beyond anything he could imagine. He saw her surrounded by faceless blurs, the way someone on the drugs would view attackers. They are taking turns hurting her, and asking her questions that she can barely comprehend. The pain they are inflicting is beyond anything she should be able to endure. Suddenly the dream changes, as the girl sits up; her eyes are darker, and her voice deeper, as she casts a spell. Flames burst from her, and drive the attackers back. Yet the flames don’t stop, they consume the ones hurting her. They burn the buildings, then scorch the ground and sky. The flames that burst from the girl, consume the world in fire. Finally the flames fade, and the girl looks at the empty sky in front of her. In agony she cries out; and he can hear her in his head. “What have I done? “ She screams. “I wanted them to stop. I didn’t want the world gone. I don’t want to be alone!”
Bob calls to her, and she turns in shock. She has had this nightmare before and cannot understand how he is still alive. Even though she is facing him, he cannot see her face. It is hidden by her hair and the shadows. They talk for a while, and then he wakes. Over the next few days, this repeats. She will not acknowledge him while awake, but in her dreams he slowly starts to gain her trust. After weeks of this, word comes down that the Inquisitor has returned and is going to start “questioning” the girl again. Bob knows he cannot allow this. He cannot understand how anyone could harm a child for being unable to answer questions she does not have the answer to! One night, he tells her she needs to wake up; she doesn’t want to. She wants to talk to him. He tells her she has to, that he is going to take her out of the cell. When they wake, she remains unresponsive, but allows him to guide her from the cell. They escape to a cabin that he assures her is safe. It is deep in the wilderness and he places wards around them.
Over time, the drugs start to leave her system. In her nightmares, she becomes stronger, able to fight back against those who would hurt her. Yet they still end with the flames. She also remains unresponsive in real life. She will not speak to him, nor will she look at him. He spends his days caring for her physical needs, and at night he continues to meet her in her nightmares. They start differently, but they all end with the flames consuming the world. One night, she tells him that there is supposed to be something more…something is supposed to happen after the flames. She isn’t meant to be alone. There are supposed to be many, many others. She has to find them, but she is afraid.
After several months they are found. Merlin’s Minions attack. They break through the wards, and Bob prepares to fight. He is stronger and faster than the Minions, but there are 7 of them. He fights, and for a time it seems he will win, but they outnumber him, and one knocks him back. As he hits the ground, he sees a blast of fire soar over him, knocking Merlin’s Minions back. A barrier of flames separates them from him. As he looses consciousness he hears a voice from behind him say “No one touches him. I need him so I’m not alone with the fire.”
SWAP POINT OF VIEW…NOW KATERAINA
Kateraina hears a noise like the screaming of a tree, and realizes the wards here have collapsed. The others have found them. Kateraina cannot understand why they keep coming back. The noise and static in her head rise to a din, but she still hear the fighting. She cannot hear her grandmother’s voice over the noise; She cannot hide with her grandmother. She moves quietly and she can see them attacking him, the one who saved her. Bob is the only reason Kateraina is not alone, and she watches while he fights. There are so many of them, but it seems as though he is winning. But a sudden blow knocks him down and she knows he will die. But the fire of her childhood floods her once more, and she uses it to push the attackers back. The she calls the flames to protect her, creating a barrier between the attackers and them. As she does so, she walks towards Bob saying, “No one touches him! I need him, so I’m not alone with the fire.” As Bob passes out, a single spell bursts out of the static in her head. She casts it without thought and every one of the attackers falls to the ground unconscious. She remembers how to heal, and reaches down to place her hands on Bob’s head. It is the first time she has reached for anyone since her father died.
He wakes, sees her face for the first time, looking down at him in concern. He reaches up and brushes a hand along her cheek. She doesn’t recoil, and she reaches to help him stand. They make their way out of the cabin, and he learns that so long as he is touching her the flames surrounding her will not hurt him. They travel constantly, not staying in any one place for more than a night…sometimes leaving in the middle of the night. Bob begins to teach Kateraina how to control her Power. He teaches her that she can cycle it through herself to keep it from calling to other Sidhe. As they travel she finds more and more spells coming to mind; the first time a spell is there, it thrusts itself from between her lips, forcing her to speak it. It is always useful, always what they need, and once spoken, it is hers forever. She can call it to mind whenever she chooses. Bob is surprised by how much she knows. So she explains to him that she is Morgan le Faye’s granddaughter and that her grandmother cast a spell that transferred her spells, her power as queen, to her. She tells him the history that her grandmother taught her, and tells him of the prophecy spoken before she was born.
Bob tells her about Merlin’s Minions, and why they are after her. He learns that she is twenty, and that she was a prisoner for over five years. As they travel, gradually drifting north, Bob teaches Kateraina how to fight. They spar every night after they build camp. She improves quickly and they continue to travel, growing closer together.
Kateraina constantly pushes them north, for some reason she feels pulled in that direction. After a year an a half, on the day Kateraina turns twenty two, they find an empty cavern. They can find nothing in or around the cave, but Kateraina knows this is where she is meant to be. Suddenly a spell comes to mind, and she casts it. A passageway in the back of the cave opens. They follow it and come to a cavern filled with over a dozen ice caskets. Bob is amazed. There had been rumors of Sidhe that had slept for millennium, Dreamer that Morgan le Faye had hidden.
A spell of flame starts to burst from Kateraina, but before she can finish they are attacked. The spell shifts to the barrier spell she cast before, and she holds the attackers back. They demand to know what she and Bob are doing in the chamber of dreamers. She explains a little of why she is there, but before she can say who she is, Bob demands to speak to the Guardian of the dreamers.
They are escorted to the Guardian, and Kateraina and Bob explain who she is, and why she has come. The Guardian, Tereasa, casts a spell to allow her to see the truth of those before her. She immediately recognizes Morgan le Faye’s power in Kateraina, and pledges her loyalty. However, she is unsure of Bob as he was born to Merlin’s Minions. With the spell of truth seeing, Tereasa asks Bob where his loyalty lies. He states that he has long questioned the belief of Merlin’s Minions, but didn’t want to be alone. He vows his loyalty to Kateraina. Kateraina says she will go nowhere without Bob, as he is the only reason the flames aren’t unbearable. Tereasa sees the truth of this. She will allow Kateraina to wake the Dreamers, but she begs Kateraina to wait two weeks to awaken the Dreamers. The two weeks will allow them to cast protection spells so the power of the awakening does not draw Merlin’s Minions. Kateraina and Bob agree this is a good idea.
After two weeks, Kateraina casts the spell to awaken the Dreamers in the cavern. Her flames melt the ice, and the Dreamers wake, whole, and healthy. They see Kateraina and recognize her grandmother’s power in her. They each pledge their loyalty to her, and she in turn pledges to do all in her power to protect them. She tells them, however, that she cannot stay too long, as there are other Dreamers to seek out. The spell has drained her, however, and it takes her time to recover. During this time, Bob and Kateraina learn much of the history of the Sidhe, and the history of the war. Bob and Kateraina are welcomed as family.
Yet, despite the welcome, Kateraina will talk to no one unless Bob is with her. She is withdrawn still. Most believe it is simply because she is drained from the spell. Before they can learn otherwise, Kateraina begins to feel restless. She is feeling drawn to the east, towards the rising sun. She and Bob leave less than a month after the Dreamers were woken.
They travel from place to place, meeting what Guardians they can and waking the Dreamers they find. Each time they Dreamers pledge their loyalty and most of the Guardians do too (there will be a section talking about one that didn’t) and each time, they are welcomed as family. Yet, every time, Kateraina and Bob move on after less than a month as they are still being sought by Merlin’s Minions.
Their travels and the battle or reconciliation with Merlin’s Minions will probably be in a second book, and I may do a prequel for the story of Morgan le Faye. I will also go more in depth in the relationship between Kateraina and Bob.