dragonspeak | May the road rise up to meet you

[About a month after they parted ways at Hengist's castle, Lancelot's sleep will be interrupted by something small and light landing on his nose. A quick look reveals it to be a butterfly. Another, closer look reveals it to be a parchment butterfly, and one that is looking a bit worse for wear. Once he catches it, it'll unfold itself to reveal a letter (wrinkled and burned in some places): ]

Lancelot, if you're reading this, then my letter's managed to find you all right. Sorry it took so long to write! I had to modify one of the spells in the book and I think I finally got it to work. It was supposed to turn into a bird, but anytime I tried to change the shape, the parchment caught fire. Looks like you're stuck with the butterfly until I figure that part out.

Write me back and let me know how you're doing?

-Merlin

[Lancelot's reply takes a much more traditional route and thus takes considerably longer to find its recipient. It's also carefully worded in case it reaches the wrong hands.]

Merlin, you never cease to amaze me. Now a challenge for you - try to make it work for replies.

I'm doing well, currently I'm in a small village at the outskirts of the kingdom. I know not the name of the creature I slew here, but it is one creature less to bother the good people of Camelot.

How fair things in the city? How are you, Arthur, Guinevere? I look forward to hearing from you again.

-- Lancelot.

[Merlin's next letter comes with an extra sheet of parchment about a month and a week later.]

The spell for the blank sheet was tricky, I hope you appreciate the effort that went into changing it. When you're done writing, hold it over the candle flame and that should activate the spell. Now that we have a way of sending letters I will expect your replies to arrive more quickly. Don't keep me waiting, my friend!

Camelot is doing well. We had a slight troll problem only weeks before, but it's been taken care of. Gwen and Arthur are both doing all right too.

What did the creature you encountered look like?

-Merlin

Edited 2012-06-02 22:04 (UTC)

[This reply definitely arrives faster than the first, though the wording is still cautious.]

I hope this letter finds you well. If I do not hear from you within two moons I will send you another by more traditional means.

I'm glad to hear Camelot is doing well. What was the trouble? I've never encountered a troll, I do hope it was easier to manage than the griffin.

The creature was the size of a bear bearing a face like none I have ever seen before, ears elongated, its mouth took up most of its face. In a way it resembled a vicious looking dog but the body was a distorted version of a human's. It had an affinity to children, but steel conquered it easily enough. Have you ever heard of such a thing?

I trust Camelot will remain safe under your care.

-- Lancelot.

[This one arrives a week after Lancelot sent his out.]

It looks like the spell works just fine. This is great! Now I'll have a somewhat reliable way of finding you.

A troll was disguising herself as a beautiful noble woman to get a hold of Camelot's riches. She and Uther were married. I don't suppose you got an invitation?

And Gaius says the creature sounds like a cynocephaly. Head of a dog with the body of a human.

When do you think you'll come back to Camelot?

-Merlin

[Since he's managed to distance himself further during this time, his reply takes two weeks.]

I would expect nothing less from you, Merlin.

I'm afraid I received no invitation, had I gotten one you can be sure I would never have missed it. An unintentional oversight, I'm certain, but a regrettable one nonetheless. The aftermath of that is surely a tale that will reach even these parts before long.

Cynocephaly - I've never heard of it but the description sounds fitting.

I will return when I have something to offer the people of Camelot.

How is your life treating you?

-- Lancelot.

[The next letter Lancelot gets will be a bit of a surprise. Instead of the usual battered parchment, this one's wings actually have a gossamer quality about them, a tint of blue to them. Like usual, though, once Lancelot touches it, the spell wears off and reveals a letter. Someone's been playing around with the spell again.]

You most likely will hear about it, considering it was a rather public affair. If you don't by the time I see you again, I'll tell you the story myself.

Life is treating me well enough. After the troll was dealt with, things in Camelot have settled down again. Running errands for Arthur and Gaius, picking up after Arthur, ducking whatever Arthur decides to throw at me for the day. You know, the usual routine. At least I haven't been in the stocks lately! I ought to call Arthur a few names in front of the knights and see if that gets me thrown in again. The children in the market have been rather disappointed lately, and I think they miss their favourite target.

You should know you already have something of value to offer Camelot, my friend.

-Merlin

Already I'm hearing tales, but I have a feeling this is a time in which the truth surpasses all imagination. I look forward to hearing your account of the matter. They say they could smell the thing three towns over.

Careful now, you might find yourself facing more than you bargained for if you test Arthur in front of his men. If it's the stocks you miss try spending a few days in the tavern avoiding your duties, it's been told often enough you might as well make it true for once.

I see you've been keeping busy - this letter is quite impressive.

Perhaps some day I will have something to offer, but for now I trust that Camelot is in the safest hands it could possibly hope for. I know you will take care of Arthur, Guinevere and Camelot, but don't forget to take care of yourself as well.

Give my regards to Gaius.

-- Lancelot.

[The next letter comes nearly a month and a half later, and its wings seem to droop as it flutters into Lancelot's room and perches on the nearest object. Rather than the light, cheerful blue of the previous letter, this one's wings are an ominous grey.

The letter itself is short and to the point.]

Sorry it took so long to reply. Everything is all right. I just had to adjust the spell again.

Where are you now?

-Merlin

Edited 2012-06-22 23:08 (UTC)

[A reply arrives a little over two weeks later, the parchment specked with blood stains that have smeared in an obvious attempt to clean them.]

I am currently in Cenred's kingdom. I know you, Merlin. Everything is certainly not all right. What's the matter? Should I make for Camelot?

Don't worry about the stains they are from but a scratch that would hardly be remembered by the time you get this.

-- Lancelot.

[The next one from Merlin arrives in record time: 2 days. The butterfly-letter looks a bit worse for wear, flying erratically and dropping onto Lancelot's head in letter-form as soon as it reaches him, as if it's used up all its energy getting to him that quickly.]

What's the matter?? I should be asking you that!

Why was there blood on your letter?

--Merlin

[He sends his reply right away, so the letter arrives as quickly as the magic carries it.]

It's nothing, a mere scratch. I ran into bandits, and the encounter was far more unfortunate for them I assure you. It should be nothing more than a memory soon enough.

I would still like to know what is going on with you.

-- Lancelot.

[It seems Lancelot's plight has drawn Merlin out of whatever funk he'd fallen into before. His next letter arrives just as quickly as the previous one.]

Sometimes I wonder what you would consider just a scratch. I hope it isn't anything too serious. Drat it all, I wish these letters could carry items as well as words. Do you need anything?

-Merlin

Edited 2012-06-27 01:00 (UTC)

[The next letter takes a little longer, he's managed to distance himself further during this time. Don't think he hadn't noticed how you still avoid his questions, Merlin.]

I am well, and I want for nothing other than to know how you are. I don't need to see your face to know that you are keeping something from me.

-- Lancelot.

May the road rise up to meet you

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switching fonts like a pro

awwww yeah B-)

/sunglasses

<3

<33!!!!

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