Chapter 1. A Change of Mind
It had begun with two arrows fired in his direction that led Jack back into Merlin's house- the pig following in its own time. He slipped through the door and had just barely managed to shut it when a boy forced his way inside. Jack tried to summon Merlin to help with his problem, but it did nothing more than entice the boy to hit him. The attack, surprisingly strong, resulted in him crashing onto the table while the smaller boy drew a knife. That very knife would have pierced his eye, had he not instinctively reached up to grab the smaller boy's wrist.
"You don't hate me," Jack whispered with a small wave of his hand.
"Not you, but one you have sworn to protect; and with the magic will soon grow powerful!"
"You really like me," Jack tried again.
That one inspired a grunt and renewed efforts to sink the blade into his flesh. Desperate, Jack noticed Merlin's wand sitting on the shelf. It was not something he was trained to use, but at that point anything would have done. Reaching his right arm out to the tool, Jack focused, willing it to his hand.
"You..." he began a third time as the wand finally flew into his open hand. "You love me!"
For a split second, the magician thought it had not worked. Another passed before the knife clattered on the tabletop and Jack found his lips engaged with those of his would-be dispatcher. It shocked him. The kiss was not long, but the few seconds that it lived were full of frustrated and confused groans from the man trapped between boy and table. As it was, he was a bit breathless when they separated after a more solid push from him to the boy above.
"Not that much," escaped him in a gasp.
Unfortunately, it seemed the smaller male was not interested in his protests and Jack found himself pushed roughly to the floor where again he was covered by the enchanted boy. He was so surprised by what was happening that Jack almost missed the other's voice, breathless in lust, telling him that he was the boy's first. That could have meant first anything, but it made him hesitate. Especially when he found himself trapped in a kiss yet again.
"Stop it."
With a strong shove, Jack pushed the boy away causing the other's backside to hit the floor and the tunic that had been held firmly in his grasp to rip. The exposed view made it more confusing to the magician. He gave a smirk.
"Your name's not really Brian, is it?"
"Brianna, but you must promise-"
She climbed onto his lap with a predatory smile. He couldn't resist smiling a bit. One of her hands grabbed his clothes and she pulled him closer.
"I am your man." Only for a tick did his tone read disappointment as he continued, "You really had me fooled there."
He couldn't help it; he closed his eyes and suddenly she was a boy once again.
"Everything depends on it. They don't knight women."
Her hand wrapped around the back of his neck and he reveled in feeling wanted, but knew it could not continue for much longer.
"Don't worry."
Jack had to force his eyes to open because with her words he could not allow his thoughts to stray to the boy she had been. The boy that could have been on his lap seeking to draw life out of him through sweet kisses.
"Only as a knight may I demand what my father begs for. Justice. Through trial by combat."
Jack had stopped trying to return her kisses moments before he realized she was the one who had sent the threatening notes to mistress Deborah. His mind then focused solely on the reasoning, he let her continue to kiss him while the story spilled through her lips
Slowly the magician gave way to the thief with a conscience... He willed himself to give her a few tender kisses before moving so that she was lying on the floor as he stood up. Merlin's wand in hand, he took a step and gazed at her in what was almost sorrowful resignation.
"I'm really going to regret this," Jack looked once more upon her form that seemed so welcoming, "but would you close your eyes for a moment?"
She did and with a look to the heavens, Jack waved the wand at her once again to remove the compulsion to love him. She was a beautiful girl and would probably have been a fun lay, but that wasn't what he wanted. Then he had to consider how she would feel if he took her too.
Not a pretty thought.
It didn't take long, once the spell was off for Brianna to turn back into Brian. The ripped clothing was righted as much as possible and Jack was fixed with a rather upset look.
"Don't worry," he tried to appease the false boy, "I won't tell a soul."
Her voice dropped an octave as she replied, "Of course you won't."
That was quickly followed by a right hook to his cheek that threw him to the ground. In the time it took him to fall, she had picked up an axe and was prepared to throw. He tried to calm her, but nothing stopped her from unleashing it.
Magick had been present for the incident, from the first moment Jack had tried to calm the squire's ire through Merlin's interruption of the flying axe. Now, she did not make it a habit of getting involved with those who dabbled in her gifts beyond fuelling their works; however, this pair of children were something special. The boy especially. They both were more than they seemed and needed each other.
A ripple of excitement rushed through Magick as she decided what to do. The boy needed the knight that the squire would become, but could not love a woman. In turn, the girl needed to become a knight who could protect those in her power, but no girl could succeed in this time. They were bound to one another. With a mother's love she could give both what they needed and watch them allow more to grow from it.
So it was that the girl Brianna was taken into Magick's bosom never to return and with each new interaction would emerge as the boy she currently pretended to be.
