A/N: Sorry for the long wait. School was a pain in the butt.
Chapter 3: An Exchange With The Mage
Arthur woke up with the sound of wooden drawers sliding against a carpeted floor. What seemed odd was his back being pressed against woolen sheets and his head leaning against a soft, feathery pillow. He blinked and forcibly sat up to find himself in a regal bedroom coloured with rich deep blue. He raised an arm as he saw the sun beaming through the gigantic window next to the bed. Where was he?
He kicked himself off the sheets and hitched his breath. His eyes slowly glowered at the soft fabric under his feet and when he met a pair of eyes. He let out an unmanly scream.
"AH!" The maid returned with a very shrill scream and hid behind the bed's wooden posts. Her pigtails swirled behind her as Arthur clutched his chest in relief, panting irregularly as the maid peeked at him.
"Sir, I terribly sorry for startling you," the maid apologized her olive skin becoming more clear in the sunlight," but I've come to add some new clothes for you as requested by the Prince."
Arthur massaged his temples, brows furrowed as he tried to recall the recent moments in his head before he blacked out. "I must apologize myself for surprising you," he blinked, remembering that unmanly shriek he bellowed, "But may I ask where am I?"
To Arthur's surprise, the maid covered her mouth and giggled, "He must've banged you hard huh?"
"Excuse me?"
The maid coughed and brushed a hand against her hair, "You are in the guest quarters' of the palace. The Prince led, more like laid, you in this room for you to rest."
Alfred! Of course, Arthur nearly forgot about his request to meet the mage. "I see. Thank you, miss."
The maid smiled mischievously, "It's a pleasure, sir. Seeing as you are the prince's consort-"
Arthur coughed with his eyes bulging, "I am not the prince's consort. I am simply an acquaintance he made along his way to the kingdom."
The maid rolled her eyes, "Sure you are." She hurriedly fixed the clothes on the drawer and bowed stoically at Arthur. "Please excuse me."
The maid took cursory steps to the white mahogany door but Arthur spoke, "May you send word to the prince that I have to come speak to him?"
She glanced at the wooden drawers and then cynically at Arthur, "If I were you, sir, I would get some garments on myself first."
The maid left the room to hear the muffled sound of Arthur groaning at the sight of his skimpy shorts and unbuttoned cotton shirt.
With the final click of a button, Arthur adjusted his collar and hummed as he gazed at his reflection. He slicked his hair back from the water flowing through the golden sink of his bathroom and curled his lips, feasting his eyes on himself. A black cutaway morning coat pressed gently on his wiry figure with his neck stuffed with a cravat, adorned by an emerald ornament that complimented his eyes. He scorned the heat of his waist coat just as his thighs were tight on the breeches, hugging him. Despite that, he felt good. He finally experienced the sensation of wearing old historical clothes that he had read in his books and finally understood how terribly uncomfortable they can be. At least, he did look good.
His heeled shoes clacked against the wood and brushed the carpets as he unlocked the door and inhaled the fresh air of the palace's hallways. Once again, his eyes were met with rich ocean blue and flowers were also of the same shade. Forget-me-nots, bluebells and hyacinths; all of flowers with a hue of blue met him as he strode through the hallway. It was as if the decors had nothing better to do but to splash everything else with blue. Though, it was a beautiful idea and it reminded Arthur of the White Queen's palace which was covered in a hue of white and blue. This kingdom really was a devoid reality of his fantasies; he hoped that it would last.
A part of him didn't relish the idea. He wondered why, seeing that he is away from the annoying modern world. He was away from his brothers and the idea of living a breezy, fast-paced life in the city. He could finally live the reality of being a wizard, and live in a world that fitted the idea of being a magical being. Yes, it wasn't so bad at all so why does he doubt?
When Arthur arrived at the end of the hallway, he was met with ecru marble stairs and maids occasionally bursting through the doors across the room below, carrying dishes and cleaning tools. He descended the stairs and to his surprise, a butler paused from his duty to accompany him.
"L'rd Arth'r," he addressed politely with a deep voice, "It is good to finally meet you in p'rson."
Arthur nearly felt overwhelmed at the blank and somehow intimidating expression the servant greeted him with. "Ah, yes, do I know you?"
The butler bowed, "F'rgive me. I'm Berwald, your attendant."
Arthur swore the butler bowed like a tree bending under a harsh storm and his gaze was stony and ice cold at the same time accommodating. He couldn't help but wonder why this man wasn't under the military but he understood how he would make a good butler. "It is an honour to have you as my attendant, Berwald."
Berwald grunted in agreement. "M'st I guide you through the palace, sir?"
Arthur shook his head and pursed his lips frantically, "Maybe some other time. For the meanwhile, where can I find Prince Alfred? Is he busy?"
Berwald paused and it unnerved Arthur as he saw his expression grow darker. "The Pr'nce is in the Mage's hold. Must I call for h'm?"
"Please allow me to accompany you," Arthur offered and Berwald marched upstairs. Alfred kept his word to consult the mage though he never knew it would be this fast. He should really show Alfred his gratefulness despite the prince being extremely obnoxious about their relationship. It was just so creepy for Arthur to start a fairy tale relationship with some prince that he hadn't even met. This was a fantasy, but Arthur liked to keep things real here too.
Berwald paused as they entered a decrepit-looking door. Arthur felt chills shocking his spine as he saw the worn out paint decorating the wooden door. There were tiny claw marks and was that… a blood stain? Arthur noted that this door was some sort of transition to the horrific side of the kingdom. This was something out of a horror movie.
Berwald knocked twice in rhythm with precision and grace. The door creaked open as if by reflex and Berwald opened the door. Arthur found no one behind the door as he entered the room. The door shut loudly and he panicked when he saw Berwald not by his side.
"Err, Berwald?" He called out, hiding his anxiety.
"I'll be o'tside." The towering man grumbled, his voice muffled by the door.
Arthur gulped and his heart calmed when he saw the room was not as dilapidated looking as he expected. It was wooden and old yes, but the smell of ancient nature and wild cherries wafted through the air. Arthur found it comforting and remembered; magic-bearers have an affinity to weird things. He could conclude that as he remembered the basement back at his manor. He missed his basement.
He cautiously tread, the wooden floor creaking ominously under his feet. His eyes stopped at the shelves decorated by books and herbs that trounced each others scent. His eyes watered as he met with a rotten plant sitting adjacent to the shelf. He could either cry at the sight of another dying plant or the unsanitary things that he had not met yet. He noticed at the end of the room a beaded curtain of golden beads followed by a velvet curtain that had torn and scratched marks below. Was there a cat living in this place? Arthur caught the smell of burnt fish and his nose wrinkled at the smell.
"Hello?" Arthur called out. No one replied. He decided to peer through the curtains covering something suspicious and met with the sight of Alfred debating with a sinister cloaked figure. White hair flowed beyond the hood of the cloak and Arthur couldn't discern the figure's face.
"Mage, this is no time for me to get another of your items!" Alfred whined, "My request for you is of utmost importance."
"You're being stubborn," A female voice from the cloak hissed, "Do not be so selfish, brat. Just show me this so-called damsel you've caught."
"Please don't use the term caught," Alfred gestured with quoted fingers on "caught", "I found him. I can't show him to you now. He's probably asleep in the guests' chamber at this time."
"So that means you have time to gather some items," The female voice hummed.
"No! I know you're a mage and all but can't you just go outside the market to gather them on your own?" Alfred groaned.
"Too tiring," the voice spat tiredly. "Wait-"
The cloaked figure's disguised face turned about and Arthur hid behind the door frame. But his effort of hiding failed when Arthur suddenly felt vines creeping on his legs and he stepped backward. He staggered and fell to find himself falling through the curtains. His eyes met the other two residents within the room. "Well, shit."
Alfred's eyes glowed like crystal balls, "Arthur! You're here."
Arthur shoved a hand against the prince's unarmored (and firm) chest as he attempted to embrace him. "Good to see you."
The figure spun and the sound of heels clicked as the figure glided closer to Arthur. Arthur forgot that he interrupted a conversation and he meekly stared at the cloaked figure. "I must apologize for interrupting your exchange. No one seemed to respond to-"
"You needn't peek," the figure interrupted calmly, "You can just knock."
Arthur bit his lip. So there was a reason for the room to be covered in wood. "I apologize for my ignorance."
The cladded figure nodded and began inspecting Arthur, head to toe. Arthur could feel daggers stabbing on his body as the sound of heel's clicked and clacked around him. Alfred, surprisingly, was silent. For the first time, the prince's lips were in a line and his fleek brows were arched downward. Arthur realized the prince was in a white button-up shirt tucked behind a blue waist coat that showed his masculine and buff torso. He remembered that this was a fantasy and that men weren't supposed to look that fine in a tight outfit in reality.
"Is this him?" the figure finally spoke with her voice icy like her hair.
"Yes," Alfred glanced at Arthur longingly, "I know this is him."
The figured gripped at the hood on her head, and shrugged out of the cloak. A beautiful woman gazed with nonchalant aubergine eyes at Arthur. Her skinned rivalled the moon's glow on a damp pavement and her ash blonde hair flowed until her waist, topped with a purple bow accentuating the colour of her eyes. She wore a blue evening gown with sleeves that draped on her thin arms, revealing a bit of her endowed chest. She was stunning and Arthur swore that she was like a blizzard: freezing him in place with her cold stare and her ice queen beauty.
The mage's face moved closer to Arthur's own and Arthur wondered if she knew what personal space was. At the corner of his eye, he swore he saw Alfred exhaling impatiently and crossing his arms in an agitated manner.
"Would you mind if you moved a bit further?" Arthur backed away and the woman followed, her gown swaying as she did so. "Thank you, madam."
"Funny," the woman mumbled, "it's been so long since someone called me so."
With a twist of her wrist, a butter knife flew to her hand and she played with it as if it were a wand. This is odd and awkward, Arthur thought, as she suddenly leaned back against the nothing and sat in the air.
"Alfred," she ordered, "I need you to leave the room for a moment."
Arthur looked back confusingly at the Prince and somehow Alfred saw the look in his eyes for him to explain what was going on. "Alright," he forced a smile at Arthur, "I'll be outside. You look lovely in that outfit by the way."
Alfred drew the curtains away and bent under them. Arthur heard the sound of the wooden floor board creaking in the distance. He returned his gaze to the woman sitting before him.
"Please have a seat," The woman raised a brow when Arthur sat in the air with her. "Looks like your ass has found a place to stay."
"Indeed, it has," Arthur chided, "Perhaps I have brought my own seat on the way here."
The woman huffed a rare laugh, "Your humour is witty. I dislike witty."
Arthur gave a self-deprecating smile as the woman spoke, "I believe you have heard of me from Alfred. It is a pleasure meeting you, Arthur."
"It's a pleasure meeting you too, Great Mage," Arthur welcomed and crossed his legs, "When I heard of you at first, I imagined you'd be some creepy old man."
"Instead you met a creepy woman," The mage jested as she glided a hand on her knife.
She paused playing it and laid her knife on the air. "You must have a purpose to meeting with me. It's not every other day that I meet a foreigner fall from the sky approaching me. Hopefully you come to me with good intent."
Arthur chuckled. "So Alfred told you," his eyes gazed at her, half-lidded, "and I have no intent of harming you."
The mage raised a brow and Arthur whispered a chant, and abruptly large clutter of knives advanced from behind a shelf that stood behind the mage. She smiled and folded her arms in an impressed manner. "You're a seasoned wizard. Seeing through traps is a skill only wizards can master."
"Madam," Arthur began, "I must ask for your assistance, and this involves this involves the mystery of how entered this world. If you would be so kind, as fellow magic-bearers, that you may help me in my situation."
The mage leaned back on the air her eyes still examining the wizard before her. "I'm listening."
Arthur elaborated on the previous events; from his desire to leave his old world to the vision Lucy saw. The mage just sat silently, as Arthur ended his tale. The mage unfolded her arms and rested her elbow on her lap.
"It's interesting," She mused, "that you're actually Alfred's prophesied damsel. I was expecting someone more cheerful and idiotic like him."
"Please," Arthur shook his head, "I also need you to break the news to him. I am not his damsel."
The mage raised a questioning brow. "Do you still doubt your companion's vision?"
Arthur nodded, "I've come to ask you if I can contact this goddess my companion mentioned."
The mage sat up and she drifted slowly to the ground. Her heels clicked on the ground and she proceeded to the book shelf where she selected a thinner book from the others. Arthur was curious and sat away from his invisible seat. He sighed tiredly; surprised that he found a lot of his energy drained from just sitting in the air.
The mage brought the book to a rounded ebony table and discarded a deck of tarot cards from each page. She grabbed a seat and shuffled the cards in her hand as the last card landed unto her palm. Arthur slid a seat from under the table and watched the mage as she adroitly shuffled the cards in her hands and cut the cards in order. She looked up and glanced distantly at the curtains.
"I believe you need your lover to come here," she directed.
"For the last time, he is not my lover," Arthur groaned and grudgingly drew out the curtains, calling for Alfred. The mage heard a loud voice muffled by the curtains and not so later, Arthur returned with the prince tailing him, like a pleased dog. She could laugh at this ridiculous combination: master and dog. This was the beginning of a wonderful relationship.
Alfred dragged a chair next to Arthur and much to the wizard's discomfort; the prince's body was close to his. Arthur shuffled away from the prince as the mage began reshuffling the cards.
"I missed your fortune telling," Alfred chimed in.
"Silence, fool," the mage hissed, "I can't focus with your loud voice."
Alfred harrumphed and the mage tapped the cards against the table. She extended a hand towards Arthur and gave a quick order. "Hold my hand."
Arthur slid a hand on her thin one and the mage closed her eyes. She murmured something under her breath as she selected a card from the deck. With two fingers she selected a card and flipped it as she rested on the table. Arthur studied the contents of that card and raised a brow as it did not seem to be what he thought it would be.
The figure shown before them did not resemble any of the arcana Arthur recalled in a tarot deck. The reversed image of a hermit crab, waving at Arthur seemed to make him question if this were really a serious tarot reading session. The mage glanced up and locked her eyes with Arthur as she began pressing a finger at the card presented.
"The Hermit, huh. So you've been isolated before? Withdrawn?" The mage queried and eagerly stared at Arthur.
"I've always isolated myself. In fact, I believe I call myself a shut-in," Arthur confided and his heart warmed when the mage hummed in agreement. He wouldn't mind being alone with the mage, just as long as she wouldn't be so awkward and awfully random.
The mage took five cards and spread it through the table. She delicately flipped the one at most left and the image of burning cartwheel was revealed. She continued to flip another card and revealed the image of a spade-shaped watch that glowed an ethereal light under a dark sky.
"I believe the cards are retelling your story. As you've said before, your friend, Lucy, claims for you to play a role. Perhaps that is your destiny. But," the mage points to the watch, "Like the Spades Queen's watch, it stays a mystery but serves a great purpose in a dim situation."
"These tarot cards are vague," Arthur complained, "Could you perhaps recap "
Alfred winced when a butter knife grazed a strand of Arthur's hair. The mage directed the knife to come back and folded her arms. "If you've come to seek my help, you must bear with the way I help. At least I'm helping you now so don't question my help."
Arthur opened his mouth, " I'm not even getting to the juicy part of my session, wizard."
Arthur closed his mouth and Alfred sat him down, laying an arm on his shoulder which Arthur shrugged off. The mage inhaled deeply and curled her fingers as her hand flew to the fourth and fifth card. In a flash, the reversed image of a man petting a lion and a reversed image of a familiar arcana, The Fool. Arthur drew a breath when he caught his eyes with the mage.
"However, if you do not wish to comply with this so destiny, you'll be making a wrong decision," The mage's hand flickered back to her deck of cards and she opened a card. Then, the room fell silent.
The mage's hair seemed to move with an unfeeling breeze and her violet eyes slightly dissolved into a dark green hue. She gazed at the card and revealed the image of scythe adorned with emeralds. The mage locked her eyes on Arthur. "Your punishment for disobeying your role will be permanent and non-withdrawn contact with death."
Arthur's feet were glued on the floor as Alfred gazed at the mage's new appearance. Her hair slightly curled and her voice spoke more softly at them. "Find your purpose and stay with it else another end meets you."
"Natalya!" Alfred cried and grabbed the mage as she massaged her temples. Her slowly straightened to its normal shape and the shade of green faded away from her eyes. Arthur stood from his seat and knelt next to the mage who shut her eyes tight.
"The visions… visions… Arthur Kirkland," Natalya warned him, "if you die in this world, you'll die in your world."
The prince furrowed his eyebrows and Arthur could only stare blankly at the images resting on the table. "What do you mean, Nat?"
"Fortunata… the goddess," Natalya murmured and fingers trembled as if a torrent of water collided against her, "Fortunata is toying with you, wizard. She granted your wish to stay away from your world but she risked your body and presence. She's playing with your existence."
Arthur coughed as his eyes frantically flashed back at the mage and her cards. "You struck a deal with her, Arthur. Whatever she wanted you to do, don't fail her. Don't die else if you do, your existence will not only vanish in here but also at your home."
The mage regained her strength and she scrunched Arthur's cravat with a weak hand. "You made a deal with the devil!"
Arthur scrunched his eyebrows and frowned at the overwhelming heaviness straining his mind and his body. He gritted his teeth tightly at those cursed cards and at the recovering made and exited the room. He left with swaying and almost limp arms, and avoided the prince calling out his name.
Lucy buckled her tall and slender legs as she lay against the hay of her stable. She was glad to get some rest and she laid back against the wall dividing her from a pair of eyes that observed her every movement.
A/N: This is so rushed and please ignore my inaccuracy with tarot card reading :v PLease review, I'm always a hoe for reviews.