Merlin winced as Arthur took down the third knight, showing little mercy. In fact, the time they had been out here training Arthur and his mood had showed no one mercy. While training was taken serious, Arthur and his men laughed, joked and teased each other. Today, the knights were eyeing their prince warily and not daring to say a word.
"You call yourself a knight?" Arthur spat as he knocked another one to the ground. "You all are pathetic!" He turned, tossing Merlin his sword as he started to take off his gear. "I want all the weapons cleaned and polished." He told his men who weren't looking at him. He tossed his helmet to Merlin. "Clean this up and bring me something to eat in my room. Now."
Merlin simply nodded as he watched the prince stomp off. He made quick work of Arthur's stuff and made a quick dash to the kitchen. He quickly filled a plate and grabbed a pitcher and headed to Arthur's room. As he made it to the room he heard voices, Arthur's and the king.
"You will do what you are told." King Uther ordered as Merlin quietly snuck in the room.
"You cannot make me do this!" Arthur shouted back, just as angry.
"I can make you do anything. Don't forget it!" King Uther had a finger in his son's face. "You will do this for Camelot."
"What about me?" Arthur fired back, his chest heaving in anger. His hands shook at his side and he squeezed them tight. "Shouldn't I have a say in this?"
"Not when the advantages outweigh what you want." King Uther turned around, heading for the door.
"You had it. With mother. Why am I denied the same just because you want your way?" Arthur's voice shook as he made his father pause at the door. But the king didn't say anything, he walked out the door.
Merlin who had just put the food on the table quickly had to dodge a book that was thrown against the wall. He watched as Arthur kicked his chair over and then stood there, hands on hips as he angrily stared at the floor.
"Umm, here is….your food." Merlin said quietly.
Arthur jerked, not even aware Merlin was there. He eyed the food, the jerked away to go stand at the window.
"What's…going on?" Merlin asked.
"Go away." Arthur muttered, without looking at him.
"Sire-"
"I said get out!" Arthur screamed at him.
Merlin left, stopping outside the door to shake his head. What in the world was going on?
There was something in the air. Hadley could feel it as she walked with her sister to the great hall. Tonight was another big feast, the last before the King and his daughter left in the morning. Hadley was glad to see them go, especially the princess. Hadley had managed to stay in her room all day, not seeing anyone but her sister. Thoughts of last night wouldn't leave her. The feel of Arthur against her and his kiss wouldn't leave her either. When that thought came, then the thought of the princess finding them made her shiver. The hall was full with people laughing, smiling and drinking as they entered. She had tried to beg off as sick, but her sister wouldn't allow her. Her sister loved this. Of course in their village there were never parties like this. Hadley let her sister drag her around the room, getting food, getting a drink. Hadley stood as Emma flirted with some of the knights from the night before. One tried to talk to her, but Hadley couldn't even fake interest. Her stomach was churning and her head hurt. She sought out Merlin, which usually would make her feel better but he was currently being yelled at by Arthur. She was too far away to hear, but it was easy to see Arthur was angry and Merlin was calmly taking it, like he always did. Prince Arthur was here tonight, in his crown, royal cloak and a long, heavy chain around his neck she had never seen him wear. Anger simmered around him and….sadness. There was sadness in his eyes, she could see that from there. Her heart tugged, wanting to go to him, but knew she couldn't.
"There are more people here tonight." Emma muttered, her eyes moving around the room.
"Yes." The people started to move as the doors opened and King Leonard and his daughter made their appearance. Lady Elizabeth looked stunning in a red dress that trailed behind her. She too was wearing her crown and an arrogant smirk on her face.
"Friends!" King Uther stood, getting the attention of everyone in the room. "We are here to celebrate tonight!" The crowed clapped, excitedly. King Uther took Lady Elizabeth's hand, smiling down at her, then out to his people. "Tonight we unite two kingdoms.
Hadley's heart stopped as she reached out for Emma's arm.
"Tonight I announce the engagement of Lady Elizabeth to my son, Prince Arthur!"
Hadley's ears roared as the room exploded in cheers and shouts. She felt Emma reach for her as the king went on. Unable to look away, she saw the king hand Arthur the lady's hand. He took it, his face devoid of any emotion. But even as far back as they were, the prince found her. Their eyes locked and Hadley's heart curled up in her chest when he looked away from her.
"Let's go." Emma whispered, taking charge of her sister and pulling her away. She drug her back to their room and pushed her sister inside. She stood there, chewing on her bottom lip not sure what to say or do. Hadley stood there, arms wrapped around herself. "Haddie…."
"I'm fine."
"It's okay if you're not." Emma softly told her, going to her. But Hadley jerked away from her, going over by the window to look out into the dark night.
"What right do I have to be upset?!" Hadley barked out a laugh. "None."
"Well…but…he…cared. I know he did!"
"Maybe, but he doesn't have a say in the matter anymore than I do" Hadley replied dully. "Tomorrow…we look for somewhere to live."
Emma went to her sister, resting her chin on her shoulder and hugging her from behind. They both stared out the window. Emma didn't mention the tears rolling down her sisters face and she didn't try to wipe her own away. "Okay."
Merlin pulled back the covers on Arthur's bed with a jerk. Speaking of jerks Arthur walked in just then. Merlin didn't say a word as he went about getting Arthur ready for bed. He put his clothes away, stuck his boots in the corner.
Arthur watched his servant as he moved around the room not looking at him. He took off his shirt, tossing it at Merlin. Merlin simply caught it, going to hang it up. "You're not going to say anything?"
"No."
"Nothing?" Arthur wasn't sure why he wanted Merlin to talk to him, but tonight…he needed someone.
"You don't want to hear what I have to say." Merlin coolly replied, finally looking at him.
"I have no choice!" Arthur lashed out, rubbing his chest.
"Maybe not. But you could have told me! You should have warned me! Her!" Merlin yelled at him, his voice shaking. "You didn't care how we found out. You were too selfish to….lessen the blow!" Even across the room and through all the people he had felt Hadley's emotions. She had been crushed.
Arthur stood there, not knowing what to say. "I've been trying to get out of this! Excuse me if I didn't take your precious feelings into account." He sneered at Merlin.
"I don't care about my feelings. I care about someone else's." Merlin's eyes were hard and full of anger. "Unlike you."
Arthur stood there as Merlin walked out, slamming the door behind him. Arthur's shoulders sagged as he head fell back. He took a steadying breath, but it didn't help.
Merlin was still angry, not speaking to Arthur all during breakfast and getting him ready for training. Arthur didn't talk either, but he sent Merlin several glances that Merlin chose to ignore. Now, during training Merlin was hoping someone would hit Arthur in the head. Hard. But it was easy to see Arthur was taking his anger and feelings out on his knights again today as they hit the ground one after the other.
"Merlin!"
Merlin took his attention off the training field to see Edith running towards him. "What is it?"
"They are gone." Edith cried, tears rolling down her face.
"Who?"
"Emma and Hadley they are gone. The king…he made them leave. The guards escorted them out sometime this morning."
Merlin's head snapped around, his eyes falling on the prince who had just knocked down his next knight. Not thinking, only running on anger and fear he stomped to Arthur, pushing him from the back.
Arthur stumbled, going to his knees only to jump back up, turning around livid. Two of his men caught Merlin by the arm, holding him. "How dare you!" Arthur roared.
"How dare you!" Merlin screamed back, straining against the knights hold. "Any respect I had for you is gone! You are not the man I thought you were and I no longer want to serve you let alone be near you!"
Arthur's sword was pointed at Merlin, his words shocking him, but it was the tears and fear in the servant's eyes that had him pausing. "Explain."
"Like you don't know!" Merlin scoffed.
"I don't!" Arthur thundered, the sword moving closer to Merlin's throat.
"Like you didn't know the king threw Hadley and Emma out this morning. They have no were to go! That…thing is after Hadley still and….now they are gone!" Merlin yelled at him.
They glared at each other for a moment before Arthur took off running from the field and into the castle. He didn't stop until he threw open the doors to the hall where his father sat talking to his servant. "What have you done?"
"Oh. Arthur. Good. King Leonard and Lady Elizabeth are set to leave soon. We are to see them off." King Uther, put his attention back on the paper in his hand. But looked up when his son was there in his face. "What's the meaning of this?"
"What did you do? With Hadley and Emma?" Arthur demanded.
"Oh. Lady Elizabeth came to me asking if I would do something about that. I don't blame her. Your future wife shouldn't have to see your…plaything on a daily basis."
"She is not a plaything!" Arthur snarled, taking his father by the collar.
King Uther waved off the two guards who were reaching for Arthur. Uther took Arthur's hands off of him. "I understand you thought a lot of this girl, but you are to be married in weeks. You need to focus on your wife."
"They have nowhere to go!" Arthur yelled at him. "She…they'll be in danger." Arthur's breathing was harsh as he stepped away. "You should have told me."
"So you could do this?" Uther barked a harsh laugh. "Let it go, son."
"No." Arthur put his back on his father, leaving the hall.
"Arthur! I forbid you to do anything! Do you hear me?" Uther yelled, but his son stormed out.
Arthur kept walking until he was back to the training field where Merlin was still being restrained. "Release him." He motioned to his two best knights. "Find the guards that took Hadley and Emma out. Find out where they took them." The knights nodded and took off to do the prince's bidding. Arthur looked at Merlin who was still glaring at him. "I had no idea."
"Yeah." Merlin muttered, straightening his clothes and patting his hair down. "I may…be…sorry for pushing you down and yelling."
Arthur's lips twitched in a smile, then looked off into the distance. "We'll find them."
"Hopefully before something else does." Merlin muttered.
"This isn't so bad." Hadley forced a smile on her face as she looked around the shack. The floor was old wooden boards, a few cracks showing the ground below them. There was a wood stove, a few cabinets on the wall, the wall was the same wooden boards, sunlight shining into between them. There was a window cut out on one side, an old piece of fabric the only covering it hard. Towards the back was another sheet hung up that divided the room into two. There was an old bed against the wall with a small table and dresser beside it.
Before the sun was up this morning, they had been woken by the kings' guards ordering them to pack. Emma had cried the whole time, but Hadley was not surprised. She was surprised it hadn't happened sooner. The guards had taken them to the edge of town and told them to leave and not come back. They spent the day walking, both lost in their own thoughts and silence. One nice couple in a far village allowed them to sleep in a small shack beside their own home. It had belonged to the woman's sister who had died years ago. No, it wasn't what they were used too but it would do. It had too.
The door opened and the smiling older woman, Hilda, came in carrying a bowl. "Here is some soup." She put the bowl on the table and pulled a wrapped loaf of bread from her apron. "Eat up."
'Thank you. So much." Hadley told her, so very grateful.
"Just eat and rest. You girls are tired, I can tell. If you need anything we are right next door." Hilda gave them a smile before leaving.
Emma looked at the soup, her nose wrinkling. "This looks horrible."
"We can't be picky. Eat it." Hadley sighed, grabbing two bowls from one of the cabinets. There were a few dishes and silverware.
Emma huffed, sitting down. She made a face at the soup as she took a bite. "It tastes horrible."
"Eat it!" Hadley ordered, her patience gone.
"You don't have to be cross with me, this is not my fault." Emma smarted off.
"You think it's mine?" Hadley reared back in surprise.
"We were thrown out because of Arthur more than likely. If you would have just…fell in love with a normal person this wouldn't be happening."
Hadley's mouth fell open as she stared at her sister. "I…" She pushed her bowl away, getting to her feet.
"Where are you going?" Emma asked, alarmed to be left alone.
Hadley didn't answer as she walked away from her sister. There were a few people milling about outside, mostly getting their livestock ready for the night. She gave a forced smile as she walked. A building at the edge of the village caught her attention. There was a cross on the door. It was a church. Opening the door she went inside. It was small, and almost falling apart, but Hadley went to the front pew and sat down.
"Child, are you alright?"
Hadley saw the older man standing there in a dull brown robe. He had a long chained cross around his neck. His head was free of hair, his face wrinkled, but his smile was kind. "I'm…so…lost." Tears fell down her cheeks as she quickly wiped them away.
"Well then. I think you're in the right place." The man sat down next to her. "Would you like to talk about it?"
"I…don't know…I've been so angry with God…." Hadley admitted on a choked sigh.
"What are you angry about?"
"My mother died…almost a year. Then…my father…is gone. In a blink my family…was gone." Hadley sobbed. "I have to care for my sister. We have nothing. Nothing." She couldn't go into the parts of her magic, or what happened in Camelot.
"I see." The priest patted her leg. "It is hard to understand when such things happen. We look for answer when there might not be any. Sometimes…we just have to trust that he knows what he is doing. Faith, child."
"It's hard to have faith when everything is against you." Hadley looked at him.
"I know we just met, but I have this feeling…you are an incredibly strong person. You can handle this."
"I don't feel strong right now." Hadley rolled her eyes, looking at the small alter in front of her.
"You will. Grieve your parents. Miss them and always love them. But look to tomorrow. Focus on what needs to be done. You will find your way."
Hadley took a deep breath, turning to the priest. "Thank you. I'm Hadley."
"Oh, I know who you are." The priest gave her a smile as he got to his feet.
"What? Wait." Hadley jumped up to follow him. "How do you know who I am?"
The priest turned, eyeing her for a long moment. "This village…has waited a long time for you."
"I don't understand." Hadley was so confused. She hadn't felt danger here, or fear.
"Just know you are very welcomed here and you and your sister are safe here." With that the priest disappeared through a tiny door of the church.
Hadley left the small church with more questions and confusion than when she walked in. What had the priest meant?
"Hadley." Emma raced to her, out of breath. "I'm sorry. I'm just being a brat."
"It's okay." Hadley reassured her, taking her hand. "I don't know why we're on this path, but we have to make the most of it."
"Yes. I'm with you. Always." Emma hugged her sister tight.
"Which way, sire?"
Arthur looked between the two roads in front of him and sighed. He had no idea. The search for the sisters got started way later than he had wanted. He had to see the king and princess off. He knew he was being rude and the angry looks he was getting from his father didn't faze him. The princess had left in a huff because he basically threw her up on her horse and walked away. His father had summoned him, but he had ignored it. It had taken his men hours to find the guards that escorted Hadley and Emma out. Then when they had found them, they informed them they only took them to the city limits. So now, they could be anywhere. They weren't in the upper village. They had left the castle grounds. "Merlin?"
"I don't know." Merlin muttered in frustration. He had always seemed to feel a connection with Hadley, but now he was getting nothing.
"We'll go this way." And pray it was the right way. Were they in the woods? Would they spend the night out in the dark? Arthur's belly turned in fear. "We'll find them."