Modern Magic 11

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Oliver entered the room and eyed Bors who released Sireen, "Tell them."

Sireen straightened herself up, "Theodore had me take him to Oliver. He wished to speak with him, without the rest of the Table knowing. You'll find the entry as a visit to Timeless Treasures and he requested me to drive him.

She lowered her hands slightly as she listened to Sireen, she then turned and looked back at Lake and her eyes narrowed. “Someone better explain why Theodore would want to talk to you?” She looked between both Sireen and Lake.

Sireen shook her head, "I simply drove him to the meeting. And agreed to keep Oliver apprised of Emrys's movements after Theodore passed."

Oliver cleared his throat, "Theodore asked me to return to the Table, even apologized for the previous Merlin not having the Table help when the nazis took my grandfather's home. He knew that his great niece Samantha was going to become the next Emrys. And that she would need all the knights she could get to help her."

Lowering her hands entirely she looked at him with a look of disbelief, “So you came here to rejoin the table?” She asked.

"I figured that after my appearance at Mt. Kaersage that Sireen would be exposed as doing what Theodore asked her to do. So, yes I am here to retake the Lancelot chair." Oliver explained.

Turning and glancing at Ryan and Mr. Archer for the ok on this action. She didn’t know their protocol on how this type of thing worked.

Archer looked back, "This type of thing has never happened, there are no protocols for a knight reclaiming their seat at the round table."

Bors scoffed, "And who are they that you bring in here?" Both men with Oliver had not spoken as of yet.

"They are my step-brothers and have been raised like I was to be knights even without formal recognition by the table or by Emrys." Oliver explained.

Sam lifted her hands into the air as to show herself done with the current situation. She went back to her seat and sat. “Please everyone sit, apparently there is much to discuss.”

Bors returned to his seat as Ryan did as well, Oliver and his brothers went to Lancelot's seat and he directed them to seats behind the table.

Mr. Archer looked at Sireen who had said nothing else and everyone else in the room. "As this situation has never happened before I believe it will be Emrys's decision on what is to be done with Sireen and of course the return of Lancelot to the Table is also her's in the end."

Sam crossed her legs and put her hands in her lap leaning back in her chair. “Sireen gather a chair as well this now involves you too.” She ordered and pointed to a spare chair across the room. “I feel this is a very important issue at hand and I want to make it right not by what I believe but what others feel as well. So, with that being said Ryan.” She looked to him. “What say you about Lake rejoining the Table?”

Ryan looked down at the table, "Oliver was there to back us up in our time of need, he should be allowed back in when it never was his decision to leave."

Sam looked to Bors, “What do you say about this?”

"One good deed does not change the fact his family walked away from this table. Nor, does it absolve her of keeping secrets from us." Bors said flatly.

Sam then looked around the room, “Anyone else have anything to say about this matter?” She then let her eyes land on Sireen, she was disappointed with the woman but still liked her.

There was a knocking on the table and everyone looked at Oliver, "Point of order." He smirked at his words, "Is not the object of this table to protect and serve the descendants of Merlin and humanity from Modred?" He paused to let everyone nodded their agreement, "And in serving the previous Emrys, she apparently proved her loyalty in spades. If the table dismisses her I myself feel that we are fools."

“I feel like you deserve to have your seat back but if anyone objects to this please say so now.” Silence fell across the room. “Next we move Sireen.”

Oliver gave her an almost defiant look, "Emrys, I was referring to Sireen. As I am currently back into my family seat." Behind him his step brothers exchanged glances, and then looked at the others in turn.

“Sireen isn’t being dismissed. But there needs to be a discussion if this type of thing happens again.” Sam looked to Oliver.

Sireen released her held breath; Oliver leaned forward and looked at Sam, "So then should Emrys not ask of anyone to keep a secret or honor orders given in secret?"

Samantha stood and leaned toward Oliver, “Mr. Lake I have never asked that nor will I. There is a difference when you involve someone who is not part of this Table into our affairs.” Sam then tapped her fingers on the desk.

Oliver smirked at Sam's movements, "So, then we should take any previous secret orders or requests by the previous Emrys should be said allowed so that they may be forgiven? I understand sometimes the need for quiet conversation and meetings behind closed doors." Sam wasn't sure but she could almost swear he was talking about them having sex in the back office at the bar.

Samantha saw his smirk and she had to almost sit on her hand not to slap him not just because of the comment she thought was over their eventful night but his look on his face. “If there is anything else that needs to be said then so be it, say it. We need to start fresh here not under hidden knowledge.” Sam said as her nails dug into the table.

Everyone looked around and no one said anything, until Mr. Archer spoke up. "I understand from what we were told about these creatures that Modred has found a way to create them away fro the well of souls. Can you explain how you defeated them so easily Master Lake?"

"Shotgun rounds called Dragon's breath." Oliver answered plainly.

Sam gave a quiet sigh and sat back in her chair and looked to Ryan. Her eyes searched him for an explanation but was unsure if there was one. Her hand locked and she sat back in her chair and crossed her legs.

Bors again knocked to get attention, "Knights do not use guns, and to what end will these things bring about?"

Sam looked to Bors and immediately nodded, her attention then diverted back to Lake and to see what his response would be. Sam didn’t know what to say now and it was obvious.

Oliver looked at Bors, "Without those rounds or the help, how long do you think it would have taken two of you to cut them down? I understand more than any that the main fights should be sword to sword."

“Enough!” Sam blurted as her hand slapped the table. “We get you was the white knight saving the day, but that’s besides the point.” She looked around the Table. “Does anyone else have anything that needs to be said? Or can we move on to the next objective?”

Oliver looked at her, "I am not bringing that up to boast Emrys. The rules placed upon both sides have not grown as time has marched on, Modred has found ways around them corrupting magic and people. Do not expect me to apologize for embracing firearms against such things as those creatures, I will gladly face a minion sword to sword and talent to talent."

Archer was looking between the two of them and cleared his throat, "Do we need some time to allow for us to learn more about our brothers returned to the fold?"

Sam stood, “The guns are allowed to stay, I’m sure Modred has adapted to change and will use it to his advantage.” She looked to Oliver and the the rest of the Table. “Let us learn from this and not allow it to happen again. We will be open and listen to others concerns or point of views.” She rose her hand to show she was finished with the entire conversation. “If it wasn’t for Oliver’s help we may not have made it through the last event with the Horrors.” She added as she went toward the elevator. “Sireen will you walk me to the car please?”

Sireen nodded and got up from her seat and walked beside Sam towards the elevator, leaving everyone else behind them.

As Sam pushed the button on the elevator she turned back to the others, “If anything comes up tell me.” The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Inside the elevator she turned and pushed the floor button and gave everyone a nod as the door closed in front of Sireen and Sam.

A few moments after the doors closed Sireen finally spoke, "I wanted to tell you, Theodore insisted I keep Oliver appraised of your movements. He was worried about you." she confessed.

For a moment she just looked over at the woman, “Sireen I understand.” She finally spoke. Her eyes went to the ceiling and she gave a sigh, “Why would he be worried about me?” She asked softly.

Sireen smiled, "You are the first female Emrys and you are the first Emrys with a direct lineage to the last. Samantha you knew Theodore, most never met the one they gained the powers from. And that made you special to him and thusly he wanted to make sure you were protected."

Knowing this information made her mind swirl. “I’m the first female?” She asked already knowing the answer. She looked to the number declining above them on the elevator. As the elevator dinged again she looked to Sireen, “You are forgiven Sireen and I trust you again but please come to me if there is something going on that needs addressing ok?”

"Of course." Sireen replied with a slight smile of relief, "I want you to know that when Theodore told Mr. Archer to hire me as part of the Table and the law firm I was humbled to be so accepted. I am even more so by your forgiveness."

Sam reached over and gave Sireen a gentle pat on the shoulder, “If you ever find it hard to make a decision that you know is dire or needs addressing or even if it deals with the Table; we will work it out together you just get ahold of me. Alright?” She smiled as the doors to the elevator opened.

When she got back to the car the driver asked, "Back home miss?"

“Yes please, take a scenic route if you wouldn’t mind.” She relaxed against her seat and closed her eyes.

"Through the park it is." he replied and edged the SUV out into traffic. As Sam relaxed in her seat she began to hear music, not from the radio but from another time in the back of her mind.

The music was soft at first then became more clear and louder as she relaxed. Her mind cleared and her body pressed against the cold leather seats of the SUV. This felt trance like as she relaxed more and her body was becoming more and more less tense from the previous meeting.

When she opened her eyes she could see the past, she knew it was somewhere in the 1940's and the men she was looking at was Emrys. He was the one before Theodore but could not tell when, he was in a three piece suit and sitting with what she would have guessed as Ryan's ancestor who had a piece of paper in his hands. "I understand what Master Du Lac is requesting, he seeks to head off the coming war with Germany. However, the American President is not willing to enter the war. He has denied the British Prime Minister as well as many others."

Walking closer she listened to the Emrys words, trying to piece together what they were talking about.

She watched Ryan's ancestor take a sip of his drink, "Emrys, Richard Du Lac is one of us and he fears that he and his family are being targeted by Modred. We must do something, try to help them somehow." The band returned to the stage and began to play again, Emrys and David Green turned and watched them. Samantha felt herself returning to the present and what was going on in the present.

Opening her eyes she took in a deep breath. She then looked around a moment to see where she was, the music had faded and her senses returned to the present. She didn’t quite understand her vision but Richard Du Lac must be something she asked about.

Her driver had her in the almost exact center of Central Park, she knew that she could ask Mr. Archer about her questions.

She sat in her seat quiet and still, her mind repeated the name Richard Du Lac over and over like she had heard it before. She waited till the driver got her home before she would call Mr. Archer. “Thank you for taking me home.” She told the driver as they had pulled in to the town home of hers.

As they pulled up Sam looked across the street and saw the three motorcycles parked on the Central Park side, along with both of Oliver's stepbrothers. And sitting on her front steps was Oliver Lake himself. And like a lightbulb Sam knew Richard Du Lac was Oliver Lake's grandfather, she had seen when the Emrys had refused the request of help and the Du Lac's lost their home.

Getting out of the car she looked Oliver up and down, then she shut her door to the SUV. “Can I help you?” She asked as she walked up to her steps.

"Figured we could talk, maybe clear the air a little bit." he said with a slight smile.

“After ignoring my text and calls?” She gave a look of surprise to his offer.

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Modern Magic 13