Chapter 15: The Council

"Why?" asked Nimue.



"This is no time for questions! Just take me to them! I don't care if they are asleep or not, just take me to them! Blaise's life may depend on it!" replied Merlin, already running to where he thought the Council might be.



Less than one hour later, Merlin was rapping on the door of Geoffrey's house, where the Council was meeting.



"Merlin? What are you doing out and about this late? I thought you had gone to your cottage." said Geoffrey in a sleepy voice, indicating he had recently dozed off.



"May I come in? I have vital information that you and the rest of the council needs to know immediately." replied Merlin, already pushing past Geoffrey.



"Yes, you may, and so may Nimue."

The first thing Merlin saw was a small round table in the center of the room with two people sitting around it. Merlin had thought the Council would be old, but in fact, they were fairly young, almost as young as Geoffrey.

"Come sit Merlin," said one who had a bald head, "We would like to hear what you have to say. If it is what you say, I fear for the worst."

As Merlin recounted his dream, he saw that the Council did not look surprised by what he was saying.

"And you would like permission to go after him I presume?" asked the other Council member who had a goatee.

"How did you know?" asked Merlin bewildered.

"I too lost a family member that I could have saved, but the Council then wouldn't let me. I know your pain Merlin, but we can't let you go. If you go, you may end up dead. I am sorry." said the second council member, the one with a goatee.

"Then death is a risk that I will have to take; I don't care what the consequences would be if I were to return unharmed, but I will take them, if only I am able to save Blaise." said Merlin, nearly shouting the last few words.


"Even if the punishment for disobeying the Council is long-term exile of sixty years minimum, starting from the moment you return to the Light from your venture?" asked the bald Council member.


"Yes."


"Then go," whispered Geoffrey, "Go so you may return sooner from your exile. Go save Blaise, and hurry, before it's too late!"


Without thanking the Council, Merlin ran off, faster than he had ever ran before, knowing every moment he wasted here meant another moment that could result in Blaise living.


"Wait Merlin!" cried Nimue from far behind Merlin.

"What is it?" asked Merlin impatiently.

"Let me come." she replied. Merlin realized she wasn't asking.

"No."

"Yes, I'm coming with you."

"No, you're not. It's too dangerous. I promise that someday I will come back." said Merlin with finality.

"I'll be waiting." said Nimue in such a soft tone, Merlin had to strain his ears to understand what she was saying.

"Goodbye." said Merlin. With that final word, Merlin ran off into the forest, and burst into flame. Moments later, a phoenix flew out of the forest where Merlin had disappeared, circled back to fly above Nimue, then started its journey to save Blaise.

"Goodbye." said Nimue with a touch of sadness, watching Merlin fly off into the sunrise.