Chapter 5: The Chosen One
“Ohhh, my aching head,” groaned William. “Where am I?” He opened his eyes, but everything looked blurred. “Is this Harsly?”
William rubbed his eyes and gradually his vision began to return. Once it had, he discovered something truly amazing. He was in a castle’s bedroom.
“This is unbelievable,” he muttered, sliding off the soft bed he had woken up in.
Awestruck, William staggered to a small window in the room and gazed out at the world beyond. There, before him, lay a busy medieval town surrounded by wooden walls. Further out, William saw a huge forest with a slow flowing river weaving through it like a serpent. It all looked so unreal.
“I must be dreaming,” said William, staring down at the people walking about the town. “This can’t be real, can it?”
Finally, William accepted the fact that he wasn’t dreaming.
“I guess I’d better find someone to query for information,” he thought, leaving the window and turning back into his room. “Maybe I’m lucky and someone’s waiting just outside my door.”
As he headed for the door, William noticed something to the corner of his eye. He looked to his left and saw a familiar green coloured book. It was sitting on a table next to the bed.
“Surely, it couldn’t be the book that called itself Foddle, could it?”
On closer inspection, William discovered that it was indeed the book. Immediately, he reached down to pick it up.
“Ahhhh!” screamed Foddle, as William grabbed him.
“W-what’s wrong?” asked William worriedly, after being frightened out of his wits.
“Ye scared the heck outta old Foddle,” he replied.
“I scared the heck out of you? You scared the heck out of me!” snapped William.
“Well, it not worries. Remember that I be a little jumpy when woken so unexpectedly. It be known that books need their rest, too,” said Foddle, yawning. “I guess ye be wondering what happened. Take a seat on that fine bed and I’ll tell ye.”
William sat down on the bed.
“Let I be taking it from the start,” began Foddle. “After ye cast the spell, ye, I and me lad’s friends --”
“Friends?”
“Yes, two healthy sized lads. They be still fast asleep in a room next to here --”
“Hang on, you mean Trevor and Albert are here, too?”
“I not be knowing their names,” replied Foddle, “but they be in the same room when ye cast the spell.”
“Those two aren’t my friends!” said William. “They’re my worst enemies.”
“Oh …”
“Please, you have to send them back,” pleaded William.
“I be sorry, but old Foddle can’t.”
“How come there here at all? I cast the spell.”
“I be not sure. Maybe they be too close to ye when ye cast the spell. That be Foddle’s guess.”
William stood up and began pacing the room, trying to think up a way he could get away from the Twins.
“Maybe Foddle was only testing me when he said there was no way back,” pondered William hopefully. “Yeah, that’s it. He was just testing my devotion to becoming an apprentice.”
“So, is me lad ready to go and see Merlin?” asked Foddle. “He be waiting to see ye.”
“I’ve decided this wizard stuff just isn’t right for me,” said William, sitting back down on the bed. “I think Trevor and Albert would make much better apprentices. They can stay here while you send me back to Harsly -- before you say anything, I’ve already worked out that this one-way trip stuff was just a test.”
“A test?” questioned Foddle.
“That’s right, a test. You just said there was no coming back to make sure I was committed to becoming Merlin’s apprentice.”
“Sorry, me lad, but that be no test. That be the truth.”
“What?”
“And anyhow, doesn’t ye love adventure? Ye say it before we be leaving.”
“Are you crazy? I never wanted to come to a place where my life was at risk!” exclaimed William, getting back off the bed and pacing up and down the room. “The only reason I accepted your offer was to escape the Twins, and now they’re here, what’s the point?”
“But ye be the Chosen One,” said Foddle, fluttering around William’s head. “It be yer destiny to protect Camelot from the evil that soon be coming.”
William stopped and faced Foddle.
“Me … protect Camelot? I’m just an ordinary kid. There’s nothing special about me.”
“But there is, me lad. The fact that ye be standing here proves ye special.”
“What do you mean?” asked William.
“Those spells ye cast in chapter one … they be a test,” replied Foddle. “Casting spells not be a skill anyone possess. Only the Chosen One be able to cast those spells so easily.”
William sighed. “Even if you’re right, it doesn’t seem fair that I’m stuck here with the Twins. They’re sure to make my life difficult.”
“Old Foddle think it be the ones ye call the Twins whose lives be difficult, not me lad’s. I be also thinking that it be part of a fantastic plan that ye be chased by the Twins. It be only because of them that me lad decided to come to here be Camelot at all, true?”
“I guess so,” replied William, still a little sceptical. “I have one last question, though … why do people from where I come from know about Merlin, Camelot and all that?”
“Ah, that be a very good question. Old Foddle not be knowing the answer to that one. Why don’t me lad ask Merlin? He be very wise and sure to be able to answer that for ye.”
“OK, I will. Are we off to see him now?” asked William.
“That be soon, but me lad need to dress first.”
William raised an eyebrow.
“But I’m already dressed,” he said, tugging at his shirt. “See, I’m wearing my Harsly uniform.”
“That not be the clothes of an apprentice. Check that there wardrobe and ye be in for a surprise.”
With interest, William walked over to the solitary wardrobe and opened it. Inside, he found a grubby looking brown hooded robe.
“Is this my great apprenticeship clothes?” asked William, holding the robe by his fingertips.
“That be it,” beamed Foddle. “It be truly a magnificent robe.”
“Magnificent? It has to be the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen,” replied William, still dangling it between his fingers.
“Has not me young lad heard of the saying that beauty is on the inside?”
“Of course, but what has that got to do with anything?” answered William bluntly.
Foddle smiled. “Fold yer robe inside out, and there the answer be.”
William did what Foddle said and folded the robe inside out. To his astonishment, the inside of the robe looked absolutely stunning. It was dark blue, had thick golden bands around the edges of its sleeves and a large golden emblem of a phoenix sown onto the back.
“It looks fantastic,” said William, holding the robe up into sunlight, “but why make the inside so much different than the out?”
“There be a simple answer to that one. When a wizard thinks it best that others not know he be a wizard, all he be needing to do is fold his robe inside out, and he be looking like an everyday beggar.”
William pulled the robe over his old school uniform and looked at himself in a mirror against the wall. The robe fitted him perfectly.
“Ah, I not be seeing a finer example of a wizard,” commented Foddle.
“Thank you, Foddle,” said William. “So, are we ready to see Merlin?”
“That we are,” answered Foddle. “Open ye bedroom’s door and old Foddle with show ye the way to Merlin’s study.”
After opening the door, Foddle zipped over William’s head and out into the narrow corridor beyond.
“Follow me,” said Foddle.
Promptly, William closed the door, and he and Foddle headed off for Merlin�
�s study. Foddle zipped through the castle at a frightening speed. He seemed to know his way around the castle. That was for sure.
“It just be up ahead,” called back Foddle, and he disappeared from William’s sights around a corner.
Suddenly, something caught William’s ear. He stopped dead in his tracks to listen.
“That sounds like Trevor and Albert,” muttered William, “and it sounds like they’re in trouble, too.”
William turned around and ran towards the Twins’ panic stricken voices.
“They must be just around that corner,” thought William, rounding a bend. “I wonder what’s happening.”
William stopped at the corner and then carefully poked his head around it. What he saw, to say the least, was bizarre. Both Trevor and Albert were desperately running away from an extremely large woman brandishing an oversized bath sponge.
“Come back here, you two,” shouted the woman, “you haven’t had your baths yet.”
“Run!” cried out Trevor, looking over his shoulder and seeing Albert falling behind. “You have to keep up!”
“I … can’t,” puffed Albert. “I’m … too … tired.”
William quickly pulled his head in before anyone saw him.
“I don’t want to get involved is this,” he thought. “Anyway, the Twins probably need a wash.”
In an attempt to avoid the wild pursuit, William slipped into a side room and waited, hoping it would pass. It didn’t. Soon, William heard Albert and Trevor struggling with the woman just outside the door.
“Get your hands off him,” William heard Trevor shout, as the door buckled under the heavy load of the Twins and the woman slamming against it.
Without warning, the door completely caved in, and both the Twins and the woman fell to the floor in front of William’s feet.
“W-W-William?” stammered Trevor, peering from underneath Albert’s sweaty arm pit.
Looking shocked, the plump woman quickly got to her feet.
“Forgive me, Chosen One,” she said, bowing her head, “I didn’t mean to disturb you. I only wished to carry out the King’s request to have these two boys washed.”
William smiled. “Don’t let me stop you. They need it.”
“Please, don’t let her make us have a wash,” Trevor begged William. “She listens to you.”
“Yes,” whimpered Albert, “save us.”
“Hmmm … why should I?” questioned William. “You two always bullied me.”
“We’ll be your friends,” replied Trevor, “the best of friends.”
“Yeah, yeah,” nodded Albert, “good buddies.”
William didn’t really trust the Twins, but he had to give them a chance. They looked more honest than any other time.
“OK,” said William, “I’ll see what I can do.”
William took the woman to the side and had a little chat with her. He told her he’d convince the Twins to have a wash later in the day. She thanked him and left to attend to less smelly matters.
“Thanks,” said Trevor, as the woman left the room, “I thought we were done for. What’s going on around here, anyway?”
“Yeah,” said Albert, scratching his head, “we wake up in this strange place and that woman is waiting outside the door. Next thing I know, she says we need to have a wash.” Albert crossed his arms. “Trevor tells her we don’t wash, not for --”
Suddenly, Foddle glided into the room.
“Ahhh, old Foddle sees me lad has found his friends.”
The Twins dived behind William in fear.
“W-what is t-t-that?” stammered Trevor, poking his head over William’s shoulder.
“That is Foddle,” answered William. “Why don’t you say hello to him?”
“Err … hello, Foddle,” said Trevor timidly. “M-my name’s T-Trevor.”
“Pleasure to meet ye, T-Trevor,” replied Foddle cheerfully. “What be the name of yer friend.”
“Me?” peeped Albert, pointing to himself.
“That be right. What be yer name?”
“I’m A-A-Albert.”
Foddle smiled. “Well, it be nice to be meeting ye, too, A-A-Albert.”
“I was just about to start explaining to Albert and Trevor what’s going on around here,” remarked William to Foddle. “They don’t have a clue.”
“That be strange. Someone was meant to be telling them as soon as they be awake.”
“I think that someone mentioned the word wash, and after that, time for talking was over,” said William. “Trevor and Albert don’t mix with water. It’s a scientific fact. Isn’t that right, you two?”
“Yeah,” replied Albert, “it’s a science thingy.”
“Well, it not be a big problem. I’ll be taking care of it,” announced Foddle, and he whizzed over to the Twins. “Enlightenarnus -- Explainarnus.”
“What did you just do?” asked William.
“Why not me lad ask them?” replied Foddle, smiling cheekily.
“So, guys, what did he do?”
“To put in quite simply, your dear friend Foddle has explained to us what is going on here,” answered Trevor smartly. “What a clever chap he is to do it with magic, too.”
“Did you just speak like I thought you just speaked?” asked William, flabbergasted.
“Oh, I believe he did, my dear chap,” said Albert, sounding like his IQ points had just quadrupled. “However, I must say to use the word speaked is, how does one say it without offending … incorrect. It would be better to use the word spoke or one might sound a little silly when chatting to his sophisticated companions. Of course, I am referring to Trevor and myself.”
“What on earth did you do to them, Foddle?” questioned William.
“Old Foddle, errr, make them understand what be going on, just as me lad wanted.”
“But you’ve made them, how does one say it without offending … eggheads!”
“Oh, ye be talking about them being smarter and all, don’t ye?” asked Foddle.
“Well, yes, you could say that.”
“Well, it be pretty simple. I be wanting to use the explaining spell on them, but it be needing them to be smarter, see?”
William groaned. “So you pumped up their brains and then used the explaining spell.”
“That be right,” said Foddle. “I see ye have no needing for bigger brains, though.”
William turned to face the Twins.
“Are you two happy with the way you are now?”
“Absolutely,” replied Trevor. “After one has been enlightened, one would never want to go back. Maybe you should ask your dear friend Foddle if he would cast the spell on you, too.”
“Err, I think I’ll skip on that one --”
Foddle smiled. “It not be any trouble.”
“No, thank you. I think my intelligence is more than adequate,” snapped William, frowning at Foddle to shut up.
“One should never think. One should know,” remarked Albert, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, you’re right, Albert. Thank you for your insightful input, but shouldn’t you two be heading off to have a bath by now?”
“Yes, one should make an effort to be clean,” said Trevor, straightening his tie. “Come on, Albert, let us depart and make our way to this establishment’s bathroom.”
“I’ll see you later, guys,” called out William, as Albert and Trevor walked out of the room.
“Well, we best get going, me lad,” said Foddle. “We not be wanting to keep old Merlin waiting.”
Together, William and Foddle left the room and headed off through the dimly lit castle to Merlin’s study, occasionally passing suits of amour and burning torches.
“Ah, this where Merlin be,” said Foddle, hovering in front of a finely crafted door. “Ye better knock before entering.”
William walked up to the door and knocked. After a moments pause, he heard the voice of a friendly old man.
“Please, come in,” said the voice, and the door magically flipped open
.
Through the doorway, William could see a very elderly looking man with a long white beard. He wore a robe similar to William’s, but his had golden stars and semi-crescent moons on it.
“Welcome, William,” said the elderly man. “Come in and sit down.”
Nervously, William walked inside. He sat down at a long wooden table heavily laden with bottles. The bottles were filled with different coloured liquids and were bubbling violently. They were potions, no doubt. After looking at the bottles, William glanced around the rest of the room. The walls were lined with bookshelfs and a large star chart hung from the door. A small table sat next to the room’s window. On it, a misty looking crystal ball rested. It all looked very crowded.
After closing the door, the elderly man walked over to William.
“Oh, I haven’t introduced myself, have I?” he said, stopping and reaching out to shake William’s hand. “I’m Merlin the Wizard.”
“It’s a pleasure,” said William, and he shook Merlin’s hand.
“Me lad had a question for old Foddle before. I be telling him to ask ye.”
“And what question would that be?” asked Merlin, glancing down at William.
“Yes, how come I’ve heard of your name before? Everyone’s heard of Merlin where I come from.”
“Hmmm … to explain that would take sometime. I know, why not ask me during supper after I introduce you to the King Arthur and the people of Camelot? They’re all waiting to meet you in the courtyard.”
William gulped. “Meet me?”
“Oh yes, didn’t Foddle tell you about the celebration that’s been prepared for your arrival?”
“No,” replied William worriedly. “I don’t have to say anything to the crowd, do I?”
“No -- no, I’ll do all the talking, my young friend,” reassured Merlin, and he took hold of a long wooden staff from beside a bookshelf. “I’m a master of catching an audience with this staff. You just wait and see.”
With some anxiety, William left with Merlin for the courtyard. Foddle, on the other hand, stayed behind to take care of one of Merlin’s bubbling potions. William was positive he heard a small explosion after they had left.
“The courtyard is just beyond that door,” said Merlin, and he stopped. “I must warn you of something before we continue through it. Not everyone believes my prediction of you being our saviour, the Chosen One. You may get looks of distrust.” He looked disheartened. “Some on the High Wizard Council refuse to believe Camelot’s future is in danger at all.”
“What is the High Wizard Council?” asked William.
“It is a group of wizards who deal with the political matters of Camelot,” replied Merlin, stroking his long beard. “I am a member, but I don’t control the council. They debate and vote on issues all the time. It’s all very boring.” He smiled at William. “Are we ready to head out to the courtyard, then?”
“Yeah,” conceded William, “we might as well.”
Merlin opened the door, and they stepped outside.
It took a moment for William’s eyes to adjust to the intense sunlight outside, but once they had, he saw an incredible scene. A mass of people stood in front of a huge wooden platform lavishly decorated with flags and silks. Seated on the platform in a royal chair was none other than King Arthur. Behind him, stood a group of men and women dressed in similar clothes to Merlin. These were the members of the High Wizard Council, assumed William.
As William walked out from the doorway, there was a blow of horns and the crowd fell into a murmur of whispers, “It’s him. It’s the Chosen One.”
Merlin signalled with a wave of his staff for the crowd to part, and they did so. Together, William and Merlin proceeded through the crowd and up onto the platform.
“Greetings, Merlin,” said King Arthur, rising from his chair to shake Merlin’s hand. “I see your new apprentice is here.”
“Yes,” replied Merlin, smiling in his usual fashion, “the Chosen One.”
“Well, you’d better introduce him to the people of Camelot. We don’t want to keep them waiting.”
The crowd, which had only whispered to each other during William’s entrance, was now talking loudly. Merlin headed out to the edge of the platform with William beside him and stuck the floor three times with his staff. Suddenly, a blast of blue light shot skyward from Merlin’s staff. This magical feat quickly got the attention of the crowd.
“I bring forward to you today the Chosen One,” announced Merlin. “As young as this boy is, he alone will guarantee the future prosperity of Camelot.” He put his arm on William’s shoulder. “To ensure he reaches his full potential, I, Merlin the Wizard, will take him under my wing and train him as my apprentice. Long live the King, long live the people, and long live the Chosen One!”
The courtyard filled with the sound of applauds and whistles. William felt immensely honoured and waved to the crowd. Suddenly, something caught William’s eye. It was a boy about his age. He had a gaunt face and was wearing a black robe. The boy was staring at William with hatred. William tried hard to ignore the boy’s glare, but his eyes burnt into him like red hot needles.
With the crowd’s applause dying off, William and Merlin returned to King Arthur and sat down next to him. Following a blow of horns, a jester jumped onto the stage and commenced pulling funny faces at the crowd.
As the audience laughed, a member of the High Wizard Council crept up to William’s ear and whispered with revulsion, “Merlin is an old man, and his skills of prediction have long since faded. You may have been safe and secure from where you came from --”
“May I help you?” asked Merlin suspiciously, glaring at the wizard next to William.
“No -- no, just getting friendly with our future saviour,” he replied innocently. “We were just having a friendly chat.”
“Well, you’ll have plenty of time to talk to William during the feast,” said Merlin. “Now leave us.”
After the wizard had left, William quickly turned towards Merlin.
“Who was that?” he asked.
“He’s a member of the High Wizard Council,” replied Merlin. “Zorloth is his name. He is not a wizard to be trusted.”
“Why is he allowed on the council, then?”
“His brother, a truly fine wizard, was a councillor.”
“Was … you mean he’s …”
Merlin sighed. “Yes, he is no longer with us. This was the reason Zorloth was allowed to become a member. He filled his brother’s position on the council.”
Sensing Merlin’s grief for Zorloth’s brother, William decided not to ask anymore questions and instead watched the entertainment, the most spectacular being Deadly Dragons. It was like a lion show at the circus but with dragons. The young dragons were obviously reared from infancy as they regularly tried to lick the trainer, much to his frustration.
With the close of the final show, the crowd departed and William headed off with Merlin to the King’s Hall, where a grand feast was to be held.
Along the way to the King’s Hall, William felt he had to find out about something. He had to find out about the boy in the crowd.
“Merlin … I have to ask you something. It’s about a boy I saw in the crowd today. He looked at me with … with hatred. Why?”
“I know of the boy you speak of,” answered Merlin. “As strange as it sounds, he believes you were responsible for his father’s death.”
“WHAT?”
“I know it is hard to believe, but it’s true,” said Merlin. “You see, it all started a year ago. It was during a stormy night when even I felt that Camelot’s walls would crumble to the wind and rain. During the storm, I felt an uncontrollable pull to look into my crystal ball.” He squinted. “I peered into the crystal ball and saw Camelot under attack. Hordes of goblins and trolls had entered the city and begun to destroy it. King Arthur and his knights fought valiantly, but they failed. Even members of the High Wizard Council fought, but they, too, failed.” He leaned forward. “In
a swirl of mist, the vision in the crystal ball changed, and I saw you in a strange world, where people wore funny clothes and travelled around in metal machines.” He looked at William with a glimmer in his eye. “The scene in the crystal ball changed a final time. This time, I saw you walking through the gates of Camelot being thanked by King Arthur for saving the city. From that moment on, I knew you must be brought to Camelot. Quickly, I set about convincing the High Wizard Council to begin a search for a legendary staff known as the Staff of Tarlos. This enchanted staff has the power to transport objects or people between our worlds.”
“But what has the boy’s father got to do with all this?”
“He was one of the wizards from the council who went in search of the staff. Sadly, he went missing while exploring the uncharted lands of Evermist, where it was said the staff was last seen.”
“I never wanted anyone to die to bring me here,” said William, a little upset, “and I never asked to be the Chosen One. It’s all too much. Please, send me back to Harsly.”
“I understand it is a lot of responsibility for a young boy,” said Merlin reassuringly, “but even if I wanted to, I cannot send you back to your world.” He sighed. “We possess the staff but not the crystal which should rest on top of it. The crystal is still in Evermist, somewhere. That is why only a small object like Foddle could be sent to retrieve you, and why we had to enchant the spell in the last chapter to bring you here.”
“What if the crystal was found?” asked William, pulling himself together.
Merlin stroked his long white beard.
“Well, it was written in texts long ago that the Staff of Tarlos was used during a great battle between an evil warlock and the High Wizard Council. In that battle, one of the most powerful councillors was struck by a blast … a blast which emanated from the completed staff.”
“And then what happened?”
“He simply vanished,” replied Merlin mysteriously. “It is assumed to your world.”
“So, if the crystal was found, it’s possible to leave?”
“I believe so,” replied Merlin. “Ahh, we’ve arrived.”
William looked up and discovered they were standing in the doorway of a grand looking hall.
William Wright and the Dragon's Treasure Page 5