Alissa Ming
Wandering Storyteller
Book 1-Merlina
Prologue
The man with the black hair had been digging all night. He was one of the Believers. He was one of those that believed the story of Camelot was true. That meant, somewhere in the world, there must be a descendant of Merlin, the greatest Archmage to ever live. And somewhere here, the man, an archeologist by trade, figured he’d find the staff of Merlin. Merlin had been the only one who could stop Morgana from winning against Arthur. But ultimately, he’d failed. Everyone knew the story. Arthur married Guinevere, and Merlin had mysteriously vanished. After Merlin had vanished, Morgana had used her magic, and her knowledge of the love shared between Guinevere and Lancelot to bring Arthur down, and Camelot with him.
Then, suddenly, the man was forced to bring his attention back to his work, as his small shovel hit something. He’d found something! He dug around it excitedly and saw under the ground…a simple white staff, with a green jewel at the top. If he was right…it was the Seeing Gem. According to some, it was with this jewel Merlin could see the future. It must be! And if he was right, then this was indeed Merlin’s staff. With it, Merlin had done so many great things. He reached for the staff, excitement flooding through him.
All of a sudden, the man was blinded by a bright light. Blinking, he looked up and his jaw dropped. A beautiful woman stood before him. Her hair was a brilliant blonde, like the sun. Her eyes were ocean blue. Her skin was fair, and she wore a dress as blue as any river or lake. The man stood there, stunned. Then the woman spoke, “Ye, who would take Merlin’s staff, be wary. This staff will not allow the touch of any save its master, or the one who would bear it to its master.”
The man couldn’t speak for a long time. This woman had confirmed everything he’d ever believed, but what had she meant? Staves were not sentient, they could not choose who would hold them. But of course! This was a special staff. It was the staff of Merlin! Of course it would have an enchantment or some such to prevent just anybody from touching the thing. There were only two questions left to the man, one he asked, the other he considered. “Lady, what is your name?” He asked. The other question was about his worthiness, which she could not answer for him.
“Dost thou not know?” she said, slyly. “Then I shall not tell thee. Consider me no more than a messenger.”
And before the man had time to think, there was another blinding flash. When he could see again, the woman was gone. That gave him some time to mull everything over. It was possible that was the fabled Lady of the Lake. But, was he truly near her fabled bed of water, or could she appear before him because she was somehow connected to the staff? And would he be able to touch it? These thoughts haunted him. If he was correct about his lineage, it was less likely the staff would accept him. But what if it did? What then? He didn’t think he’d be the master of the staff, not that he wanted to be. He had no aspirations for power, he just wanted to prove the legends more than legends. The man with the black hair sat in indecision.
Prologue
The man with the black hair had been digging all night. He was one of the Believers. He was one of those that believed the story of Camelot was true. That meant, somewhere in the world, there must be a descendant of Merlin, the greatest Archmage to ever live. And somewhere here, the man, an archeologist by trade, figured he’d find the staff of Merlin. Merlin had been the only one who could stop Morgana from winning against Arthur. But ultimately, he’d failed. Everyone knew the story. Arthur married Guinevere, and Merlin had mysteriously vanished. After Merlin had vanished, Morgana had used her magic, and her knowledge of the love shared between Guinevere and Lancelot to bring Arthur down, and Camelot with him.
Then, suddenly, the man was forced to bring his attention back to his work, as his small shovel hit something. He’d found something! He dug around it excitedly and saw under the ground…a simple white staff, with a green jewel at the top. If he was right…it was the Seeing Gem. According to some, it was with this jewel Merlin could see the future. It must be! And if he was right, then this was indeed Merlin’s staff. With it, Merlin had done so many great things. He reached for the staff, excitement flooding through him.
All of a sudden, the man was blinded by a bright light. Blinking, he looked up and his jaw dropped. A beautiful woman stood before him. Her hair was a brilliant blonde, like the sun. Her eyes were ocean blue. Her skin was fair, and she wore a dress as blue as any river or lake. The man stood there, stunned. Then the woman spoke, “Ye, who would take Merlin’s staff, be wary. This staff will not allow the touch of any save its master, or the one who would bear it to its master.”
The man couldn’t speak for a long time. This woman had confirmed everything he’d ever believed, but what had she meant? Staves were not sentient, they could not choose who would hold them. But of course! This was a special staff. It was the staff of Merlin! Of course it would have an enchantment or some such to prevent just anybody from touching the thing. There were only two questions left to the man, one he asked, the other he considered. “Lady, what is your name?” He asked. The other question was about his worthiness, which she could not answer for him.
“Dost thou not know?” she said, slyly. “Then I shall not tell thee. Consider me no more than a messenger.”
And before the man had time to think, there was another blinding flash. When he could see again, the woman was gone. That gave him some time to mull everything over. It was possible that was the fabled Lady of the Lake. But, was he truly near her fabled bed of water, or could she appear before him because she was somehow connected to the staff? And would he be able to touch it? These thoughts haunted him. If he was correct about his lineage, it was less likely the staff would accept him. But what if it did? What then? He didn’t think he’d be the master of the staff, not that he wanted to be. He had no aspirations for power, he just wanted to prove the legends more than legends. The man with the black hair sat in indecision.
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