-1Chapter Seven
Nigh time in Camelot brought by a drop in temperature, still not late enough in the season for the warmth in the day to carry across at night. Cassie's hands shook slightly but she was certain it was not just from the cold. She sat, her feet hanging of the edge of her bed, trying in vain to get her cloak to tie up. She sighed frustrated when for the third time running she knotted the ties. It wasn't exactly difficult, why couldn't she just do it?
"Here." Sarah said with a sigh, kneeling down in front of the girl and taking the ties. "Why are you so nervous?"
"I'm not!" Cassie replied a little too quickly. Sarah raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm not." Cassie repeated glaring. Sarah chuckled and smoothed the sides of Cassie's cloak out.
"Then why couldn't you tie that up yourself?" She teased.
"Cold." Cassie pouted, giving Sarah her best kitten eyes. Sarah just stared back, expression non changing.
"Don't try that on me, you know they don't work."
"Used to." Cassie shrugged.
"When?" Sarah asked, standing back up from the cobbled floor.
Cassie shrugged again and leaped up from the bed, looking at herself in the mirror. She absently ran a hand over her hair, trying to flatten it out.
"Oh my god, you really are nervous aren't you." Sarah laughed, smiling from ear to ear.
"Nooo," Cassie drawled. "I just don't want to hurt the ickle prince." She grinned, winking at Sarah in the mirror. Sarah rolled her eyes and flopped down on her own bed. Sometimes Cassie forgot how well she actually knew her.
"Anyway, what you going to do while I'm gone?" Cassie asked, finally turning away from the mirror.
"Stare at the ceiling?" Sarah replied, twiddling some hair between her fingers.
"Fun." Cassie replied sarcastically.
"Well what else am I meant to do while your off gallivanting with a prince."
"You make it sound so questionable Sarah." Cassie said with fake shock. Sarah just gave her a look. "Why don't you go see Gaius for something for your headache, then you might see Merlin."
Sarah looked contemplative for a moment before shrugging and standing back up.
"Yeah, I suppose something for my head might help."
"And you want to see Merlin." Cassie said a sing song voice, ducking as Sarah swung an arm at her. He giggled and skipped off to the door. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do." She called as she walked off down the stairs.
"That doesn't leave much!" Sarah called back, a smile adorning her face. She heard Cassie laugh from a distance and shut the door behind her.
….
Arthur swung his sword in his hands distractedly, flicking his wrist so it spun in front of him. His thoughts wondered as he waited in the clearing. It was only now that he was actually wondering what he was doing here. He was curious he admitted, to see what the girl could do. Everyone knew that girls could not be knights in Camelot, that girls were not even permitted to fight. That didn't stop her form having potential, even he could see that. She had quick reflexives and if the many talks he made her perform showed anything, it was that was that she was determined and persevered. Any normal person would of complained by now. He admired how she just got on with things.
He was curious as to what made her like that. It wasn't everyday that someone new turned up in Camelot and caused a stir with him like that. He hoped that his Father didn't notice. He hated to think what he would do if he found out about Cassie, either of the two girls really.
He jumped slightly as a small chuckle broke through his wandering thoughts.
"Never thought I'd see the day were a noble was so deep in thought." Cassie teased, walking with grace down into the clearing.
"We are capable of thought you know." Arthur replied a little offended.
"Capable yes, in the habit of exercising that capability, not so much."
"What do you have against royalty?" Arthur asked, his sword hanging limply in his hand.
"I don't like them." Cassie shrugged, leaning up against a tree.
"I gathered them much." Arthur tutted.
"What have they ever done for me? Royalty are just concerned about themselves, only bother themselves with matters than concern them and not others. They don't take the lesser people into account like they say they do. People like your Father cast rules and laws that hurt instead of help." Cassie listed off. One thing you should never do is get her started on royally. She smiled to herself, she hoped Arthur knew what can of worms he was opening.
"And what makes you think I'm like your Father?" Arthur said heatedly, stepping to stand inline of Cassie. Cassie didn't falter for a second.
"What chance is there that your different from every other kingdom? Prince's are always raised to follow their Fathers. They wouldn't know a hard days work of it jumped up and bit them."
"You know nothing about me." Arthur spat, if there was one thing he hated was people who compared him to his Father.
"Your going to tell me your different, that you wont be exactly the same when you inherit the crown." Cassie challenged, enjoying how she was getting a rise from him. She didn't know why but it was satisfying, exhilarating.
"No, I wont." Arthur said confidently. Cassie smirked and stepped off of the tree, idling circling around the prince. Arthur pushed down the weird feeling in his stomach and watched her move. The Prince of Camelot couldn't be intimidated by a mere woman.
"This is all completely irrelevant to why you wanted me here though anyway." Cassie spoke calmly. "Isn't it Sire."
Arthur glared and gripped his sword tighter in his hand.
"Pick up a sword." He all but growled out, jerking his head in the direction of the weapon he had left by the tree for her. Cassie eyes in with a grin and picked it up, weighing it in her hands before falling into a fight stance.
"Bring it on Blondie." She taunted.
Arthur didn't hesitate in striking, feet work impeccable as he lunged forwards, his sword connecting sharply with Cassie's. Cassie's arm came up in an instant, her sword matching Arthur's blow for blow. He feet moved with practiced certainty, pushing Arthur to move where she wanted him to. She ducked as Arthur's blade skipped over the top of her head, using the opening to kick out at his feet.
Arthur jumped back as he saw the foot come, bringing the sword down with such force the resounding echo as it again connected to hers carried far. Cassie grinned as she saw Arthur getting frustrated. He was letting her get by more than she should, not paying as close attention as he should. He was going easy on her she could tell.
"Didn't think you were the type to let someone win." She teased, easily dodging yet another attack. "I understand though, I wouldn't hurt someone as cute as me either." She smiled cheekily, winking as she ducked under his arm. Arthur glared as he pushed at her.
"I am not going easy on you." He said sternly. "and I do not think you cute." He added as an afterthought. Cassie chuckled, she was definitely getting him frustrated alright.
"Oh I don't know." She moved backwards flawlessly dodging. "I think I'm pretty cute."
Arthur was beyond annoyed with this girl right now. She was making him look like a fool. Where did a girl learn to fight like that! Surely not from one of the outer villages, its not like they had proper trainers out there. Arthur's thoughts were cut short as his eyes properly fell on the girl as they continued to fight and he felt his breath catch, because by god she looked gorgeous when she thought. The look of sheer determination on her face was mesmerizing.
"Come on Arthur! Your not fighting a child!" Cassie chided, beckoning him with her hand to hurry up with his attack. Arthur grinned, if she wanted it then she would get it.
Cassie was momentarily shocked as she found Arthur closer to her then he had been the whole fight, his swing ten times stronger, ten times faster. She smiled to herself, now this was a fight. One well aimed swing and Cassie found her sword flying from her hand. She would have been pissed of it wasn't for the fact that Arthur was there, right close, their faces barely a breath apart. Cassie gulped, because where had these odd feeling suddenly come from?
"You are infuriating." Arthur whispered.
"Right back at you." Cassie's voice was higher than normal and it confused her. Her confusion ten folded when Arthur's lips were suddenly on hers.
Neither heard the sudden start of footsteps as the trees around them were alive with movement….
Across the grounds, walking across the cobbled courtyard, Sarah pulled her cloak closer to her shoulders, trying to ignore the feeling of unease bubbling inside of her.
4
