A Story in 26 parts - L

“Look at you!” said Albert “Merlin, come off it – pointed hat? Glasses? Are you off to a fancy dress party?!”

Merlin laughed hard and heartily, and with a small bow he changed before everyone’s eyes, appearing as an old, wizened man, with a long beard and long ponytail, black jeans and black cowboy boots.  His “Wizzard Tour T-shirt” was covered in a black leather waistcoat. “that’s better” said Merlin. “I always like to initially appear like that – it’s sort of expected I guess.  So, how’s my favourite student doing these days?”

“I’m fine thanks” chorused Arthur and Albert together.

“Okay – to business.” Said Merlin. “I can’t just drain the kingdom – my personal oath is ‘And if it Harms None, do what you will’.  If I was to drain the kingdom I would most surely kill the Spartanites and the Aquanauts – and it could also seriously harm the Elves that have been changed. What we could do though….”

The next morning, a small group gathered by the side of the lake.  Merlin tapped the water with his Ash stave causing a blue glow at the end of the stick.  Shortly the Spartanite and Aquanuat kings stood by the water. The saw Albert and their eyes glowed with hatred.  They frowned at the Kalphite Queen.  Their eyes softened slightly at seeing Bernice and they were a bit bemused at the large blue man standing behind them all.

“And how can we help you?” asked the Spartanite.
“Well” said Merlin, “I’d quite like you to go away.  Would you mind?”
“Hmm – well, we’d love to, but I’ve got a spa treatment booked for early next week.  Would you mind coming back in about, well, never?” And the Spartanite and Aquanauts laughed.  Merlin laughed too – then his face drew to a serious look, his eyes boring into the Spartanites head.

“I need to you to say that you would kill the Elves if we attempted to remove you forcefully.”
“Now, why would I say that, oh great Merlin?  We all know about your oath. So no – we won’t kill them.  You will kill them. They need the water to breath now. So we’re sort of staying… and there’s nothing you can do about it. Nerr”

“No one says nerr to Merlin” Said Arthur… then realised how very silly that sounded.  At the top of a nearby hill, a small man on a donkey appeared.

“Okay” said Merlin “I can’t kill you.  I would however suggest that you pack whatever personal belongings you have – you will be leaving by the end of the day.  Toodle pip”.  With that, Merlin turned. He saw the small man at the top of the hill, and with his fingers made a small flicking action.  The man on the hill suddenly fell of the donkey.  They all heard the swearing.
“Just in case you thought my powers were all bluff.  Pack. Now. You have until 3pm.”  And Merlin and the small gang walked off.
The time passed slowly.  Arthur, Albert and Merlin swapped tales about the old days.  Bernice and Rishma (the Kalplhite Queen) talked about attack tactics for the modern woman.
At the stroke of 3pm, Merlin stood up.  He picked up a cup and filled it with water.  He raised the glass to the East, the South, the West and the North. Placing it carefully on the ground, he made a circle with the Ash stick. He then carefully laid the stick in the ground and saying a few careful words raised the cup once more.  From his waistcoat he pulled a small wand – a stick of Oak with a purple crystal in the end.  Dipping the crystal into the water he started to stir – all the while staring at the Elfin Kingdom.

All the others looked – the waters started to move, slowly at first then faster, drawing up into the air, like a tornado.  Soon, a column of swirling water stood in the centre of the kingdom.  Merlin drew the wand out from his cup – the water standing in the same column in the cup – and carefully put the wand away.
“Pass me the Clover Stone Albert” said Merlin – and Albert hurriedly dug it out and gave it to him.
“Hold the cup carefully – don’t spill any of it”.  Bernice carefully took the cup.
Merlin put the clover stone on the ground, and with a carefully aimed boot, broke it into several pieces.
Everyone gasped – luckily Bernice remembered her task, and shook the water, but didn’t spill it.
Merlin bent down and picked up a small black crystal, released from the stone.  He then took back the cup from Bernice.  Holding the stone over the water, he let go – and the crystal was sucked straight in.

The next thing that the group noticed was that the tall column of water started to sway and bulge….