End of the Battle, Beginning the War

Fox in human form

Image by SnellSnail from Deviantart.com

Arthur defeated the guards at the castle with ease. They were no match for him in battle with the help of Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. As the battle continued, he fought easily with one hand on his katana as he saw no reason to fight seriously when the sword was the reason he would win. After defeating all the guards, Arthur and Merlin walked into the throne room.

“Morgan Le Fay! Return what you have stolen from Merlin. Or you will meet the same fate as your guards!” Arthur yelled once he saw Merlin’s former apprentice. She was in human form yet with nine fox tails protruding from her back.

“Ahhh! You must be Arthur. Hello there,” Morgan responded with a sly smile. “And just why should I return what I had rightfully stolen from the careless pooch? If he wasn’t smart enough to see my true intentions, he does not deserve the power.”

“I warn you Morgan, if you do not give us back his fox-fire, I will kill you and take it back.”

“Somehow, you do not seem like the kind of man who could kill someone he does not know in cold blood because some old dog asked him to,” Morgan sneered.

Merlin laughed at the second reference to dogs Morgan used. He would not let her continue to insult her and he took human form. The same form he was in when he and Arthur first met. “Maybe now he could kill you because an old man has been stolen from by an evil witch.” Merlin said with a smile.

Upon seeing her old master, Morgan instantly threw a deadly spell at him. However, Arthur blocked it using his sword. In the blink of an eye, before another word could be said Arthur went from being across the room to right next to Morgan with his blade at her throat. He had no idea how he had moved that fast, but that did not matter to him. He attributed his speed to the power of the blade and thought nothing of it and continued to press his blade against her throat. He was victorious.

“Give. Him. What you stole.” Arthur said with an angry tone.

“Such amazing speed you have, boy. Almost magical, not something that could be given by a divine blade, you know. That’s something only a magical creature is capable of. Almost like you are a fox spirit yourself.” Morgan said with an evil smile, not even flinching at the sword against her throat.

Angry at her stalling, Arthur pressed a bit harder. Blood began to drip from her neck. “Tell me where it is.”

“But would you not like to know how you moved that fast, because I can assure you it was not because of the sword's power. Merlin has not told you the truth about me. Not all of it. And he has not told you the whole truth about yourself either. But you’ll learn more about that in the war.”

“What war?”

“The war I am now going to wage, on you Arthur, future King of Camelot. Over there is Merlin’s fire.” She motioned to a tapestry on the wall. “See you back in Britannia. After you learn the truth, let’s see if you can still hold that blade against my neck.” After finishing her sentence, Morgan puffed into smoke and disappeared.

Merlin rushed to grab the tapestry. Ripping it off the Merlin searched frantically to find the source of his power. Once he found it, he felt complete again. Arthur sheathed his sword and pondered her words.

“Merlin, what did she mean when she said that you lied to me, or that the speed I had was not because of the sword? She compared it to a fox spirit’s, Arthur asked in wonder.

“Very well, Arthur. I will tell you what I had feared to tell you. I was afraid you would not want to help me if you knew. I found Morgan in Britannia. Her mother and father were also foxes and they consented to my training her. I learned that not long after I took her to train, her father passed away since he stopped cultivating his elixir. While cursed to be in the stone as a sword, her mother came to me and promised me she would not let her daughter’s treachery go unpunished. She promised she would bring someone into this world who could take Morgan’s place as my apprentice, and help me take back what was stolen and defeat Morgan. A few months later, she came to visit me in my boredom. She said she found the perfect man to father a new child. He was the King, a man named Uther Pendragon. During the birth, Uther found out her true identity. Feeling betrayed, he ordered her put to death. She ran and hid the child but not long after she was found and killed.”

“But what does that have to do with me?”

“Because, Arthur, you were that child. You and Morgan are half-siblings. You are half fox spirit. You will never be able to perform real magic or cultivate your own elixir. Therefore, you will live a mortal life. But you will be able to wield magic through items such as divine blades or by using magic to strengthen your body.”

Arthur was angry to learn this truth. He was deceived by this man he thought he had come to trust. Deceived by this ... fox! “Take me home, Merlin. I have made good on my promise. Now take me home so that I may form my kingdom. Maybe one day I can forgive you for deceiving me, but right now I want nothing to do with you. Just take me home.”

Merlin opened the portal and they went home. The following years Merlin eventually earned Arthur’s trust. However, Morgan made good and waged a long war on Arthur. He spent his years looking for The Holy Grail since he could not make his own elixir. He went on other adventures to other lands as well. But that’s another story. For another time.