Thank you Chezza456 for favouriting, alerting and your review! I wasn't sure if I should add in the dream to begin with, but then I figured it would be a good fall back if my other ideas don't pan out :)
Thank you to horsegirl332211 for reviewing and favouriting :)
Chapter 4 – Revealing
"Possible but unlikely" Merlin said "while they're here, I'm not using my magic"
~o~
Lady Justine's POV
"It was magic! I know it when I see it, especially when it's being done to me" Lady Justine huffed and sat on the bed in her and her sisters chambers.
"What does it matter sister, whoever did it obviously isn't there to harm us, those were only tricks! They mean only to tell us we are unwelcome; not that you can blame them. I only wish to know who it was, considering Uther would sentence any sorcerer to death."
"Yes, as do I. But tricks can easy turn nasty Serena; and I plan to find out who they are." Justine walked over to the table, where a small box sat. She undid the catch and looked inside, sighing to herself whilst her sister pondered her actions.
Narrator POV
"Really Merlin, couldn't you put in a little more effort than that!" Arthur shouted at him from across the archery field.
"No, not really!" he shouted back, still crouching behind the heavy target he held to cover himself.
"Oh, just run around some more! You're making it too easy!" Arthur laughed
"Why don't you run around with this and I'll shoot at you?" Merlin lowered the target from his face to see the Prince's reaction, but quickly recoiled as an arrow sailed towards him. "I'll take that as a no" he said to himself as he began moving with the target again.
It wasn't long before Arthur began to tire of archery practise, as always, he liked being able to do as he wanted; especially when it involved annoying his manservant.
"Let's go hunting" he called as he neared Merlin, walking to put his bow and remaining arrows away.
"Really?" Merlin said, breathless from carrying the target and collecting the rest of the arrows.
"Yes really, come on Merlin, we'll even take the horses most of the way." Merlin took a moment to consider that, being able to take a break and race Arthur across the open field, before nodding in agreement.
"Great!" Arthur grinned "go get the horses then." He clapped Merlin on the back and went to his chambers, leaving Merlin a little stunned and annoyed.
Less than half an hour had passed before the two men were saddled up with the hunting gear, heading out of Camelot. As they got to the fields outside of the castle walls, Arthur took off at a gallop, calling behind him back to Merlin "Race you!" Merlin picked his horse up into a gallop as well, cursing under his breath, how did he always fall for this?
Lady Justine's POV
A While Earlier
After preparing a few surprises for when I found out who had embarrassed me with magic, I went to look around the castle; it was only by chance that I ended up hearing my name mentioned as I walked down a hall.
"Because Lady Justine still uses her magic and abuses our loyalty. You know how hard it is for my father to let magic pass, let alone like this. But of course they visit more because they have to than want to."
"But if she still uses her magic that means that she may realise I have magic as well."
"How does that work? Can you, sense each other or something?"
"No, but if you use magic, it's easier to spot someone else who is also using it."
"Oh, so will she know from what you did earlier?"
"Possible but unlikely, but while they're here, I'm not using my magic."
I quickly went back to my chambers and changed clothes, I was going to follow them and wait for the best time to catch them off guard.
Arthur's POV
In The Forest, Present Time
"Come on Merlin, I want to actually catch something." I sighed, annoyed. "How long does it take to tie up a couple of horses and bring the hunting gear?"
"Well, it would have been quicker if you helped" Merlin interjected.
"You wouldn't be here if it wasn't to do the work, now would you Merlin" I smirked at him before heading further into the forest, Merlin close behind.
After a while, I caught sight of a deer up ahead. I turned to Merlin, putting my hand up to stop him, and my finger to my lips to keep him quiet before I carried on. I pulled my bow out, readying an arrow to shoot when I got closer. I had just lined up the shot when I pushed over, Merlin on top of me, and I watched as the deer ran off.
"Merlin" I said angrily.
"I'd thank him, if I were you, Prince" said a voice behind me.
"Get off me Merlin" I shoved him off and stood up to face Lady Justine.
"Now, now Merlin" she scolded "don't even think about it or I'll put this arrow through Arthur's head." I could see the arrow lift in my peripheral vision as Merlin stepped in front of me.
"I'll stop it before it gets there" his voice was hard, like nothing I'd ever heard of him. "Why are you doing this?"
"I thought it would be obvious" she cooed "no one embarrasses my sister and I"
"Is that all? You're going to ruin the relationship our kingdom's have because I embarrassed you?"
"Well, I'm not going to ruin it. You will. Don't you see Merlin, I know how powerful you are, I know that you could take me down without words"
"Then why challenge him?" I questioned.
"Because he will kill me. And then our kingdom will proclaim war, and Camelot will suffer. There are many magical beings that have similar relations that want revenge on Uther, and will willingly fight on our side. But I also know that that is not what Merlin here wants, so I feel that I can come out of this situation unharmed."
"Well know I'm just confused. You want revenge on us for embarrassing you, but you don't want to kill Arthur because you know I'll kill you. So what are you doing here?" Merlin threw his hands in the air.
"Before we carry on, Merlin?" I nodded to the arrow, still by my head.
"Oh sorry" he said, his eyes glowing as the arrow was thrown away from me.
"Now, what do you want then?" I asked.
"No, thank you" Merlin grumbled behind me.
"Shut it Merlin"
"If you two ladies are done" Justine continued "I'm here with a warning. If you think that you and your dragon can stop the forces upon you, you are highly mistaken."
"Dragon? You never mentioned a dragon Merlin!" I shouted at him.
"Well, it didn't seem like the right time to tell you" he defended himself.
"We'll discuss it later" I said through my teeth.
"How do you know about the dragon? And what forces?" Merlin asked.
"There are a lot of things out there Merlin, a lot of people with and against you. With all my kingdom's allies, I know a lot of things that have been happening outside of Camelot. People are planning Merlin, I may not be a threat to you, but some are as strong, if not stronger than you. People you trust might not be able to be trusted any longer. Those you fought will turn to you for help. It will be your choices that count, but those choices will determine not only the fate of you and Arthur, but of Camelot and Albion."
"Why are you telling me this?" It was as if I wasn't there as they spoke to one another.
"Because, as much as I despise Camelot for what Uther almost did to me. Albion will be a better life for us all, but some don't see that. I had hoped that I would not run into you Merlin, but when someone used their magic on me, it was not threatening. It confused me, but I did not presume you would be so stupid as to use it in front of Uther himself."
"Well, I didn't get much choice in the matter." Merlin gave me a pointed look and I held my hands up in surrender.
"You should listen to him more Arthur, he saved your life many times, including a moment ago when I almost got that arrow through your skull. He's more knowledgeable and brave than you think." I wasn't going to live that down.
"You could fool me" I muttered "but all joking aside, what are we going to do about this? What do I have to do with it? And what is Albion? Actually, I have a lot more questions than that."
"Firstly, Merlin you may need this. I do not know what it is for, I was told to give it to you a long time ago" she pulled out a small wooden box and handed it to Merlin. "Now, I'll leave the explanations to you Merlin, I must return to my chamber. My sister and I will leave in the morning." Justine walked back towards Camelot and disappeared after a few moments.
"Well then Merlin. Time to tell me everything."
So, hope that was a good twist from thinking she'd try to kill Arthur, I think that too many have tried and failed that.
Hope you liked it!
Review please :)
!x~Frankie~x!