"So how did you tell Arthur that you were spending the day away?" I ask Merlin as we trot through the forest on horses.

He makes  a face. "I told Gaius to 'think of something'."

"So, why the long face?" I joke.

"Because, knowing Gaius, he'll say the first thing that comes into his mind... and that will probably be that I'm at the tavern. Which will mean that Arthur will hound me about it tomorrow." He groans at the thought, then points ahead. "We're almost here."

"Emeriss!" A raspy voice wheezes. I jump, the horse feels my fear and starts to buck.

A man steps out of the shadows of a short, squat little house.

"Yoma!" Merlin jumps off his horse. "I bought you someone."

"Belle, yes, that I know." He says. I frown, dismounting not as gracefully.

"You know my name?"

"I have been expecting you." He smiles, showing off his holy teeth. "Won't you come in?"

We both step inside, and for a house that looks so short and horrible from the outside, it's quite tastefully furnished on the inside.

"Pleased I am to have you both." Yoma says with a toothless smile. "Now, we must get down to business. You have come to me for training, yes?" He turns to me.

While I'm getting over how he knows both my name and why I've come, he gets up an pulls a machine into the room, and then he goes over to his mantle and takes down a long box. 

"Y... yeah." I recover momentarily. "Can you help me?"

"Of course." Yoma nods. "This 'force' is all around us. Every one of us. But not everyone has the talent of knowing how to use it."

"Like me." Merlin sips at his drink.

"You are different, Emeriss. You do not use the force because you do not have to." 

"How are you going to teach me how to use it?" I ask.

"Simply. Firstly, I want to give you something." He opens up the long black case. Inside is what looks like the end of a sword.

"What is it?" I go to take it out but he stops me.

"No, you're going to use the force to get this into your hand. What you must realize, is that this weapon, called a lightsaber, is extremely powerful. More so than a sword. Stand back." He instructs. "Close your eyes. Feel the force." 

I obey, and instantly, I can just FEEL something around me. It's like I'm in a tiny room and there's a barrier around me.

"Now, reach out, and use the force to instruct the lightsaber into your hand. This is simple, and it will not take much strength, but it's a start. Now, concentrate."

I do, feeling the power rushing through me, and when I open my eyes, the lightsaber is planted firmly in my hand.

"Excellent!" Yoma looks proud, and Merlin looks impressed.

"Cool!" I grin.

"This lightsaber belonged to your father." Yoma says.

"Oh." I sigh, then look at it. "How do you turn it on?"

"Press the button."

As soon as my finger presses the button, there's a great buzzing noise, and a long blade folds out of it.

"Wow!" I swing it around, hearing it buzz. "This is wicked cool!"

"But not to be taken lightly." Yoma chides. "You can slice that bookcase in half."

"What?" I look at the one he means. It's empty, and... made of wood. "Uh... it's..."

"No questions, just do it."

I step over to the bookcase, looking at him wonderingly, then I hesitantly lift up the lighsaber and chop at the bookcase. To my surprise, it splits into two even halves.

"Now, you have a bit of knowledge as to the extent of your power. You must use it wisely." Yoma instructs.