Hey guys! Like my play on words?
Picture is the leaders of the Old Religion.
Summary: Rose and Merlin get into trouble.

      Once Rose and Merlin had gotten away from Nyx, they kept on running until the got tired. After an initial wrestling competition that Rose kept winning, despite Merlin's attempts to cheat himself into winning, the pair found themselves in the elephant graveyard.
      Before they had the chance to check the place out, Nyx caught up to them. "We're way beyond the boundary of Paradise!" She wailed. "And right now, we are all in very grave danger."
      "Oh c'mon!" Merlin said. "We all have magic here and this is what people like us live for! Besides, I laugh in the face of danger! Hahahaha!"
      Suddenly, they heard the sound of laughter and three women appeared.
      Merlin knew them from what he'd been told by gossipers in town. Out away from Paradise lived these people who believed in "the Old Religion", forms of old, very dark and dangerous magic that was used long before Paradise came about.
      The three before them were the leaders of this religion. At the front was Nimueh, the High Priestess of the Old Religion, the highest station one in their position could hold. Her power far exceeded most others.
     Then there were the twins, Morgana and Morgause. Both were the warriors and sworn protectors of the High Priestess. Morgause was the one who could call upon the spirits to assist her and Morgana saw the future. Two sides of one coin they called it.
      "Well, well, well! What do we have here?"
      "Not visitors."
      "Not guests."
      "Obviously not! This is a trio of trespassers!" Nimueh spat, looking down her nose at the children.
       "A simple mistake, I assure you!" Nyx called, coming out front to protect the children.
       "Wait a moment! You're the king's little pet, aren't you?"
       Nimueh looked amused. Nyx was anything but. "I am the king's personal council and his second!"
      "So that would make you..." She looked at Merlin, "the little prince."
      "Ooh!" Morgana cooed. "The future you'll have! You'll grow up to be so handsome! The girls will fall at your feet!"
      "Such gifts we could bestow upon you. You would be the greatest king of them all!" Morgause gushed.
      "Unfortunately!" Nimueh piped up. "That will not happen!"
      "I am the future king of Paradise!"
      "Do you know what we do to king's who step outta their kingdom?"
      "You can't do anything to me!"
      "Oh but I can!"
      With that, the three lunged at Merlin. Nyx stepped in his path to protect him, buying him and Rose time to run but soon the three were upon them again.
      They knew they were goners but suddenly Nicholas appeared, blasting the three women backwards.
      They fell to their knees. "Oh, your most Divine Majesty!" They praised.
      "If you ever come near my son again-!"
      "Oh this is your son? We had no idea!"
      "Get out of my sight!"
      The ladies took the king's cue and ran for it.
                           * * * * *
       When they got home, Nicholas pulled his son aside and gave him the talk of the century. "You deliberately disobeyed me! And what's worse!" He ended his rant, "You put Rose in danger!"
      "I just wanted to prove I was brave..like you."
      Nicholas softened. He knew his son's intentions were good. "Merlin, I'm only brave when I have to be. Being brave doesn't mean you go looking for trouble. Bravery is... knowing the right fight to fight. It's being afraid and overcoming that fear. Do you understand?"
      "Yes, dad."
      "Merlin, you know I love you. I do what I have to to protect you. I always will as long as I'm here with you.... even after I'm gone." He looked up. "Let me tell you something that my father told me. Look at the stars. The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars. So whenever you feel alone, just remember, those stars will always be there to guide you... and so will I. When I'm gone, I'll be there, watching you too."
      It was a quiet moment that only ended when Nicholas insisted in returning home. Merlin didn't know it at the time, but this would be the last time he saw his father alive.
To be continued...