Chapter 8: Bonding

As the days passed, and winter snow fell around them still, Myra and Tabitha were becoming quite accustomed to life in the castle. Because they were staying on long-term, they were given their own room not too far from Merlin's. The conditions were of the very finest, and Myra slept well every night in her bed; even Tabitha was sleeping like an angel when she was in her own crib, where she slept on the fluffiest, downiest pillow with the silkiest blankets.

They ate full and well at every meal, listening to Merlin's stories of magical study, laughing at anecdotes full of accidents and blunders. And during lessons, Myra sometimes learned more spells than she could swallow, but she enjoyed the challenge. She loved getting lost in her practices, feeling her magic growing by the day. But, in the late afternoon, if she was tired of physically learning magic, she joined Merlin and Arthur in their studies. Myra relaxed her head on the table and, while she watched the windows darken with nightfall, she listened to Merlin and Arthur read from books of biology, history, mathematics, English, and politics. Like Myra had expected, Merlin made subjects like that interesting to learn about. He related each lesson to something he had done in his years, and often the stories were as interesting as the lessons came to be. Sometimes, Archimedes had something to say about the lesson, and although his examples were too overbearing on Merlin's, Myra absorbed them like she did the rest.

It wasn't just Myra who was coming to like this new routine. Arthur, who had never received a real education before, was finding a growing interest in the subjects that Merlin was teaching him. Who'd have thought that the world was round and floating through space, or that the human body had several systems working together just to keep it alive, or even that there was a number in the universe that had no end- pi? The subjects alone were like separate worlds, and although they were sometimes hard to grasp, they were fun to dive into.

But one thing was always on Arthur's mind, and the thing always scared and excited him at the same time. It was now easy to grasp the fact that he had pulled the sword and was now king. But he never expected that the sword would be a magical one that only he could control. It made him feel even more powerful as king, but the knowledge that such a tremendous power was all his made him shake. Merlin had stated several times over when Myra and Tabitha appeared that there was evil coming. And, what if that evil really was coming for the sword's power? Would he have to fight to protect the sword and all the people who lived in the castle? Well, mayhap he wouldn't have to worry about that, because he had Merlin and Myra to help him.

Myra…

Sometimes, during his studies, Arthur's attention would wander to Myra practicing her magic. He noticed how hard she worked to perfect each spell, how she would never stop unless she was as tired as a dog. It's hard wanting to do that for everything you learn, he thought. She needs some time for herself.

Arthur now felt a new idea brewing. Maybe when he and Myra could have some time for themselves, he could take her around the castle grounds, and just talk. He knew that if she and Tabitha were going to live in the castle for some time, he would like to get closer; be friends. Besides, if that were to happen, perhaps her stay would be a lot more pleasant. Arthur himself had never had any real friends beside Merlin and Archimedes, but having a friend his own age would be a whole other thing. The thought gave him a thrill, and an anxious drive to finish the lesson he was in before he and Myra could be free.

The morning dawned beautiful and blue, and all inhabitants of the castle were up with the sun. The guards were up now, guarding the castle with a fresh energy now that there was a new king to serve. Servants were rushing around with that energy as well, under a spell by the beautiful day outside. Even Archimedes came back from his nightly flight with abundant lightness in his heart. He didn't show it much, but he sure felt it.

At breakfast, everyone arrived with grins on their faces, expecting the usual routine to commence. All except for Arthur. He planned to ask Myra to take her afternoon break off with him so that they could just talk, bond a little. He was anxious, because he knew how dedicated Myra had become to studying magic and it seemed likely she would ignore the question.

Myra beamed as she ate her breakfast. Everything about this day seemed to radiate cheeriness, and she had felt it in the atmosphere from the moment she and Tabitha exited their room. She could have sworn she even saw one lone guard smiling into space. Even as she thought it now, she still laughed softly.

Arthur breathed slowly before he spoke up. "Say, Myra?"

"Mm-hmm?" Myra asked, looking up from spooning a mouthful of cinnamon strudel in her mouth.

"Do you think that you could take your afternoon break off to take a walk around the castle, with me?" Arthur asked; he bit his lip upon finishing. Asking to do something with a friend was harder than he thought.

Myra swallowed her strudel, putting her hands on the table in thought. "Well…all right, sure. Why not? It's a nice day outside." She paused to laugh a little. "It wouldn't surprise me if the guards were asking for the day off."

"No, I guess not," Arthur agreed, chuckling too. "So, three o'clock, after studies are over?"

"Sure," Myra said. "I've never seen the castle grounds up close before. But, you don't think we'll find any trolls living around the grounds, do you?"

"I don't think so," Arthur answered. "I think we'd be lucky if we found any pike still living in the pond in this weather. And they're troll enough for me." He frowned in disgust at the thought of the monstrous fish.

Myra nodded, before she continued eating her breakfast. Arthur only grinned, satisfied with himself.

Even in the dead of January, the sun was still springtime warm as Arthur and Myra stepped outside the castle. The instant that they did, Myra was already becoming overwhelmed beyond expectations. The land around the castle was covered with snow, covering old trees and landscape structures. With the sun sparkling on it all, the spectacle was like that of a fairytale land.

"Great deck and jack!" Myra exclaimed. "I knew sun made snow sparkle, but I've never seen it look this lovely."

"Right?" Arthur agreed. "I guess it's a good thing no one has walked through it yet, or the snow wouldn't look as pretty."

"Wait! Arthur, you just gave me an idea," Myra said, turning to an old oak tree next to her. Using magic, she cut out a huge rectangle of wood from the trunk and, curling the front end upward, placed it inside the snow before a little hill nearby.

"Who says we can't be the first ones?" Myra added, gesturing to the wood in the snow.

"What's that for?" Arthur asked.

"I'll show you," Myra answered. Carefully tucking her cloak around her, she stepped onto the wood and sat down, patting the space behind her. "Come on, get on."

Hesitating a second, Arthur took his time sitting down, positioning himself so that his legs were stretched fully on either side of Myra. Nervously, he waited for Myra to do whatever she was going to do, hanging onto the wood.

"Hang on!" Myra called out before she gave a push of the wood. And suddenly, the wood plummeted down the hill, sliding through the snow as easily as rushing water. Myra cried out in sheer joy, lifting her face to the sky…just before the wood came to stop at the bottom of the hill.

Arthur was in shock, sitting still. The feeling he got was one so wild, so stomach-churning, that he just let out a loud laugh to release them. Going down the hill, he had felt a rush that was bigger, grander, more powerful than any joy he'd ever felt, although it was something a little unfamiliar.

For a moment, he had truly had fun!

"See?" Myra asked after hearing Arthur laugh. "That's what we peasants do in the snow. I'm surprised you've never done that before."

"Well, I didn't really live as wonderfully as you think," Arthur said. He paused before continuing, collecting the thoughts from the story of his past. "I was an orphan before I became king. All my life, I lived with Sir Ector and his son, Kay, in their castle. But, that didn't mean I was treated like a future knight. I was their kitchen servant, washing dishes and doing chores morning and night. They were good to me, mostly, and, so, I thought that was what I would be the rest of my life."

"And then, look at what you became!" Myra said, bowing her head and curtsying as she rose from the wood. "His Majesty, King Arthur of all England!"

"Yes, and I'm happy that it's happened, but…" Arthur's voice trailed off. "But now that the sword has magic, I don't know what I should do. I mean, it's a huge responsibility for someone like me to take; being king, and the only one who can control a magical sword. Merlin's trying to guide me, but it doesn't help that he mentions the evil every time the sword is brought up. Right now, all I want is to be understood. And no one seems to." He shook his head forlornly, turning and putting his head in between his legs sadly.

Myra felt terrible. She understood Arthur's situation. From the time her mother had died, she had been thrust into the mature position of mother of the cottage. And for the first few weeks afterwards, she had cried herself to sleep, or at least until her bed was too wet with tears to even sleep, what with her worries about not being able to live up to her family's demands. Not only that, but she felt completely alone. Her father was simply being her father, and Tabitha didn't have a clue what was happening, so she had no one to turn to when she felt as alone as Arthur appeared to feel. Throughout the long year that she worked so hard to please her changing father and care for her sister, she felt like she had given up on childhood and joys for good. But now, as a witch with the ability to create what she wished for, and a hopeful future ahead, those feelings were disappearing. Perhaps if Arthur could be given that, the past could be remedied.

"Look, Arthur, you remember when I told the story about what I went through back home?" Myra asked. "Well, I believe that every child like us should be allowed to live their lives like real children, not as adults. Of course it was a little soon to make you king, because you're still a boy. But if we keep looking to the future, we may eventually forget what we've been through, and if we stick together. I'm your friend, and I want you to know that. All right?"

Arthur looked up from his miserable position at Myra. "You mean it?" he asked.

"Cross my heart," Myra said, crossing her fingers over her chest.

Arthur smiled before speaking again. "Then, I'm your friend too."

Myra chuckled, grinning a sweet but silly grin. Arthur laughed at her expression, Myra soon laughing along.

Their laughter was suddenly interrupted by a clapping of thunder.

"Thunder?" Myra wondered aloud. "That can't be."

Both of them turned around to the ominous sound, and in an instant, their blood ran cold.

On the horizon, a black cloud was lingering. No, it wasn't lingering; it seemed to be rolling and bubbling like smoky water. It was growing, it was…roaring.

Myra slowly took a step back towards the castle. "Maybe…maybe we should go back…"