Chapter Eight: A Father and His Son

King Midas stood proudly in front of his son, Prince Arthur. Arthur bowed and then smiled.

"Today is the day my son, Arthur. He will be the new king of this kingdom. To test is worthiness to our kingdom I have sent him out on a journey. A journey to the chambers. The chambers of..Merlin." The king announced.

From afar stood a weak Lancelot. "Is that your family?" A boy asked. Lancelot jumped, being caught off guard a little. "Uh.." Lancelot didn't say much. "It's fine. I can tell your not appreciated. I'm not appreciated either in my family." The boy said. "You don't understand my family though." the young Lancelot said. The boy smiled and giggled just a little. "What's your name?" He asked. Still hesitant and shy, Lancelot didn't say a word. "Well, I understand. My names Ibon." The boy introduced. "Nice to meet you. My names Lancelot." He introduced as well. "Well, it's nice to meet you too, Sir Lancelot." The boy smiled. "If you ever need a friend to talk to, just say my name." Ibon bowed. He then headed off in a hurry.

In present time, we see both Lancelot and Midas trapped in a cage.

"I can't believe we got duped by a yellow-belly pirate." Lancelot sighed. "This is no time to sulk in defeat." Midas said. "We don't even know where or if Snow and Ashlyn are okay.." Lancelot said. "Time will only tell, my dear son."

"Will you two bloody men, shut up!" Hook shouted. He slammed his hook on the box as a sign of telling them to be quiet. "Now off to give you to the queen my dears."

Somewhere else on the ship, in a small gray cage, Ashlyn sat. "So why do I get the cage?!" Ashlyn shouted out. Another pirate stumbled over. He was very short, with glasses and gray hair. He wore a tight fitted, blue, red and white suit. He giggled in her face. "What's so funny?" She asked, seemingly feeling annoyed by the laughter in her face. The small man sat in front of her cage. "Your silly. What's your name?" He asked. She turned her head the other way.

Captain Hook came walking over to the small man, "Now Smee, move away from the lady and get to your duties." Smee got up and saluted Hook, "Yes, sir. Mr. Sir."

Hook then walked over to Ashlyn as well. "Now, pretty lady. Why are you so important to the queen?" He asked. Ashlyn turned her head towards him slowly. "And why should I be telling you." She asked. "It was just a simple question ma'dear." He replied. She could tell he was being very suave with her but that made her hate him even more. She moved in closer to his face. "Get me out and I'll tell you everything."

He laughed. "Silly girl, I'm not dumb enough to fall for that." He said looking at her lips. He did a short chuckle from his stomach and looked down to the floor. He then got up and left.

"HURRY!" Midas shouted to Lancelot, who had just escaped the cages they were in. "Bloody hell." Hook said. Midas turned to Hook and saluted before falling backwards into the cold, salty sea. "Captain? Should we fetch them?" Smee asked. Hook stopped him with his hooked hand, "No. Let them die."

There stood Arthur in front of a huge chamber. He pulled out his sword and started to walk slowly in.

Back in the dungeons, Snow laid there still lifeless. She turned her head to another man in a cage. "What are you in for?" She asked. The man was very gritty, you could tell by everything that he was in the dungeons for years. He looked to be in his middle ages. He smiled at her and picked up an old mug, slurping whatever was inside. He put it down and opened his mouth. "For not giving her a lamp." He said.

Snow cocked her head in confusion. She looked over at the food he was eating and saw nothing but slob. "You poor thing is that what they feed you?"

He nodded. She turned her body backwards and pulled out a loaf of bread she was saving for herself. She tore it apart and pushed it over to his cell. "Here eat it, you'll like it." He grabbed it slowly and smiled at her before taking a bite. It was the best thing he had in years as he bit in, it melted between his teeth and the flavor savored in his mouth.

He picked his head back up and looked into Snow's eyes. "Th-thank you." She smiled and then bit into a little piece of bread as well, "So where do you live?" She asked. "I mustn't say."

Just then a guard came down to the dungeon. Snow and the man both moved to the back of their cells. "Ms. Snow White, you have a visitor." He said with a stern voice. She got up and out came the queen, walking down with no care in the world. "Why hello, Snow. It's nice to see you back in these cells again." Maleficent said. She touched the bars softly. Her eyes motioned towards Snow Whites.

"Why the long face, doll?" She asked. "Why must we go through this.." Snow asked. Maleficent started to chuckle which turned into an evil laugh. "Shouldn't I be asking the same thing? Why must we always do this. Oh- wait that's right, your just like your stubborn mother." She growled. She then rushed back up stairs. "Deal with her." She said passing Allen.

He walked down and motioned the guard to get out. "Allen.." She said. "The only reason I am here is to watch you, so save the chatter." He demanded. She ran closer to the cell bar. "Why did you betray us." She asked. He turned around and looked into her eyes. "I never betrayed you, I was never on 'your' side. Don't you see this was only a trick." He explained.

Sweat ran down his forehead. You could tell he was very uneasy and didn't want to deal with any of this.

"I could tell you were on 'our' side." Snow said. "The story. It touched you, something that only someone effected could feel." Allen wiped his head and looked down to the ground. "You wouldn't understand anyways."

"Of course I would." Snow said. "But why?" He asked. "Why do you care about me..why? I never knew you and even now.. I only know you as a..a.." He stopped. "A friend. Never put people down. Never lose hope, never despair. I learned these things that helped me get through all of this. I do care, I care enough to help you." He lifted his head slightly. "Help me from what?" He asked. "From your curse. I can tell your under her curse." Snow explained. He leaned against the bars and fell to the ground softly. "I'm the soul keeper." Snow leaned down to hear what he said. "Soul keeper?" She asked. "That man.. Edgar Poe. That's me. I'm the soul keeper that killed her mother." He explained. "I don't believe you." Snow said. "Well believe it. I fell in love with Penelope years ago and I messed it all up by allying myself with the devil herself. She turned me into her raven pet and kept me young forever. I then took the name of Allen as a disguise. A disguise of not scaring people." Allen explained.

"I-i.." Snow was lost for words. Allen got up and looked at Snow on the floor. "You should get some rest." Allen said as he walked out and turned out all the candle lights.

On the grassy ground, laid both Lancelot and Midas. Out of breathe. Lancelot lifted his head up and looked at what was in front of him. "Midas." He called. Midas lifted his head up and gazed. It was a huge mansion that towered into the sky. "You know what this is right?" He asked. "A mansion?" Midas said, not really knowing the significant's of the mansion before them. "Not just a mansion.. it's the chambers..the Chamber of Merlin." Lancelot said.

Midas got off the ground. "I don't understand? I thought the Chambers were in Camelot?" Midas asked. "They are..but this is the chambers fro Enchanta." Lancelot explained. "How do you know so much?" Midas asked. "I-uh. I lived here when you abandoned me." He explained. "You know. I didn't mean to abandon you." Midas tried to explain. "Hold it. I don't want to here it. I may be having to team up with you but that doesn't mean I forgive you. You inflicted pain that can't be described." Lancelot said.

Midas looked to the ground out of words. "I know.. I shouldn't have done that to you but what you did was far more worst. Yet. I forgave you?" Midas said. He walked forward, "Which is such a silly thing." He said. "Enough with your sarcasm." Lancelot demanded. "You don't command me. You silly knight. You couldn't run a round table if your life depended on it." Midas snapped.

"SILENCE!" Lancelot shouted. "You never talk down to my round table. What happened to us wasn't my fault. It was none of our faults." He said. "Tell it to someone who cares." Midas said softly. "I may have been in darkness but I have found my ways." He explained. "Ways. Hah! You could never find your ways if it was the last thing you could do for your life." Lancelot said. Midas closed his eyes. "Let's not fight anymore. For the sake of everyone's life." He said. Lancelot didn't say a word. "Shall we go in?" He asked. Midas nodded.

At a huge round table, Lancelot and Ibon sat down for dinner. A grizzly man sat on the highest chair that resembled a throne.

"So Lancelot?" The grizzly man asked. "Yes, sir." He answered back. "Your father. He doesn't show you much respect?" The man asked. Lancelot didn't say a word. Ibon looked at his dad and did a deathly stare. "Father.. why must you ask such questions." Ibon said. "You know, just because their is company doesn't mean you will speak to me in such a manner." The man demanded.

Ibon lowered his head, "I'm sorry father."

"Sir." Lancelot asked. "Yes?" The man replied. "May I ask of your name?" Lancelot asked. The grizzly old man smiled, "Call me Merlin." He responded. "Uhm, Merlin. I actually would like to stay here for a little while. If that's fine?" Lancelot asked. "Why of course. Stay as long as you wish. I can tell you and my son are gonna make great friends someday." Merlin smiled.

"Hello?" Midas echoed down the dark and stingy halls. "Quiet." Lancelot shushed. "What is your second family gonna be mad you left?" Midas said with sarcasm. Lancelot glared at Midas. "Just be quiet. If I know Merlin..he's not one for trespassers." Lancelot explained. They both continued to walk down the halls. Both had their swords out ready for anything that comes their way.

Just then a smoke of blue haze engulfed them in and they appeared in front of a blue, purple and red stones.

"How?" Midas looked around. "Magic." Lancelot said. They both looked at the stones. Just then a voice whispered around them. "Touch it. touch it. touch it."

"Don't touch them." Lancelot said. "I know that." Midas replied. "Such a happy family.." A voice whispered. "Happy? Hah. Try telling him that." Midas said. "Lancelot? I don't understand? You always complained about how you never had your father and now that he wants or should I say has changed..you don't want the love?" The voice said. "My family business is of none of your concern, Merlin. Or should I said Ibon." Lancelot said.

Out of the blue all the candles in the room blue out and dust spiraled around the stones. A man appeared. He was grizzly and old himself. He wore a long dark blue robe and had a very long beard to match, it was as silver as lead on a pencil. He looked at them both and then smiled.

"You have no idea who I am do you?" He asked Midas. "Merlin, right?" Midas said. "Yes but not the Merlin you knew. Oh no. I am a new Merlin with more knowledge and wisdom than the first." He explained. "Two? Two Merlin's?" Midas questioned. "That is correct. The first Merlin, my father. He was a cruel man and used power as his way out. He used power to the point where he was killed and banished. I his son, the man who has learned from his mistakes is the new Merlin. I know more magic than any being on this planet." He explained. "And right now. I'm feeling hostility from your son." Merlin finished.

"Ibo-I mean Merlin. What are you saying he's changed?" Lancelot asked, lowering his sword. "I'm saying that his heart is telling the truth. This man has been to the dark side and now he want's to make up for it." Merlin explained. Lancelot turned to his father, "Is that true?" He asked. "I kept telling you that." Midas said. Lancelot turned back to Merlin, "Than can you tell us where our friends are?" Lancelot asked. Merlin raised his hands and closed his eyes, "I sense where they will be. Where you guys will be, but it is up to you to figure it out. I will only give you this. Danger lies where you will step." Merlin announced.

"So your saying that we have to be in danger to find them?" Midas asked. "No!" Merlin opened his eyes. "You both will go to the castle where Maleficent lies. There you will discover what you need." Merlin explained.

Both Midas and Lancelot turned to each other, neither one of them saying a word but knowing what they have to do.