In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young girl, her name… Merlynn.
-0-
Merlynn was walking to the well to collect some water. Will was running around her feet making her laugh when she looked up and spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
But it couldn't be. She was miles away. Despite her disbelief, Merlynn moved to get a closer look at the woman.
"Mother?" she called out hopefully.
Hunith turned at the call and Merlynn watched as a bright smile lit up the woman's face.
"Merlynn," she cried.
Merlynn ran to her mother pulling the older woman into a strong hug. They held each other tightly for a few seconds before pulling away. Hunith reached up and placed her hands on her daughter's cheeks. It was only then that Merlynn spotted the large bruise that spread across the older woman's face.
"What happened?" Merlynn asked, gently cupping Hunith's cheek. When her mother hesitated to answer Merlynn persisted. "Who did this to you?!"
-0-
Hunith stood in front of the King and the court, pleading her case.
"The winters are harsh in Ealdor, and there are many children. Some of them just won't be strong enough to survive. We barely have enough food as it is, and if Kanen takes our harvest, our children won't live to see another summer. Please, we need your help."
Arthur observed the woman in front of them. She looked a lot like her daughter but was definitely more reserved. He found it hard to believe that this was the woman that raised Merlynn. It was hard to believe that anyone had raised Merlynn, most of the time it seemed more likely that she had just popped up out of the ground one day.
Listening to Hunith talk about the struggles that her village faced made his heart ache slightly, he never knew how hard Merlynn's life must have been before she came to Camelot. If he was being honest, he never much thought about her life before meeting him at all. She had become such a constant in his life that it was hard to remember a time that she wasn't around.
"Ealdor's in Cenred's kingdom. Your safety is his responsibility." Uther interrupted Arthur's thoughts.
"We've appealed to our King," Hunith replied. "but he cares little for the outlying regions. You're our only hope."
"I have the deepest sympathy for you and would have this barbarian wiped off the face of the earth," Uther remarked.
Hunith looked up hopefully. "You'll help us?"
"I wish I could."
After seeing the disappointment fill Merlynn's face, Arthur felt the need to interrupt. "Surely we can spare a few men?"
"Resources are not the problem."
"Then what is?" Morgana questioned.
"Ealdor lies beyond the Ridge of Essetir. For an army of Camelot to enter it would be an act of war."
Arthur let out a resigned sigh. He saw how Merlynn looked down at the ground when Hunith fell to her knees and began to beg.
"I know you're a good king, a caring man. I'm begging you, help us, please."
Uther shook his head sadly. He did look genuinely sorry for the poor woman. "The accord we've struck with Cenred was years in the making. I cannot risk hundreds of lives for the sake of one village. I'm afraid Camelot cannot help."
Morgana left Merlynn's side and escorted Hunith out, glaring at Uther the whole way.
-0-
Merlynn stood behind Arthur as he leant over the battlements.
"I'm sorry. If it were up to me, we'd be on our way there now." Arthur told her. He couldn't bring himself to look at her. He didn't want to see the disappointment in her eyes.
Merlynn placed her hand on his shoulder, causing him to look at her. She offered him a sad but sincere smile. "You tried. And thank you for getting an audience with the King."
Arthur sighed. "I wish that Camelot was able to help people regardless of how far away they lived."
There was a pause while they both looked over Camelot. Merlynn tried to soak up the view and capture the image.
"I'm going back to Ealdor."
"Of course." Arthur nodded.
She was silent for a moment before speaking again.
"It's been an honour serving you."
Arthur sharply twisted his head to look at her. "You'll be coming back."
He didn't ask the question. He said it like she had no choice. She had to come back. She couldn't leave him. He needed her here, he wanted her here. Despite her small acts of idiocy, she was the best servent he had ever had. His often short interactions with her were the best part of his day.
"Well, she's my mother." Merlynn stared at him as if she was begging him with her eyes to understand. "I have got to look after her before anyone else. You understand?"
Arthur sighed to himself not saying anything for a few seconds before nodding.
"I'd do exactly the same." He took a moment to just look at her. Her blue eyes, her silky black hair and pink lips. She really was enchanting.
"Well, you've been terrible," he said, causing her to laugh. "Really, I mean it. The worst servant I've ever had."
She smiled somewhat sadly at him. "Thank you, Sire." She then turned and was walking away when he called out her name once more. She looked at him waiting for him to speak. He wanted to tell her a lot. Wanted to say that he wished that he could do more, that she had better keep herself safe or he would give her hell, but most of all he wanted to tell her that she would be missed by many, and by no one more then him. But all he could manage to say was a simple and heart felt,
"Good luck."
He then watched her leave, all the while feeling like there was some part of him that was going with her.
-0-
Later that day Merlynn was standing in Gwen's house, who was helping her pack for the ride to Ealdor.
"Here," Gwen said, offering Merlynn a sword to take.
Merlynn took the sword in her hand. She would prefer to have a small dagger like the one Arthur gave her to train with, but a sword would do. She felt wrong about asking any more of Gwen, who had already done more for her then anyone else in Camelot.
"Tell me how it feels?" Gwen instructed her.
Merlynn shrugged still not sure exactly what to say. "Yeah. Yeah that feel...that feels really good. It's very, erm, you know...swordy," she assured Gwen, knocking on the blade with her fist. That got a raised eyebrow from Gwen.
"I've packed some armour for you," Gwen said motioning to the pile of armour on the seat behind her.
Merlynn looked at it wide eyed.
"I won't be able to carry all that," she exclaimed.
"You won't have to."
Merlynn turned at the new voice. Morgana was stood in the doorway wearing grey tunic and trousers, clearly her traveling clothes. "We're coming with you."
Merlynn looked between her two friends in shock before managing to find the right words.
"What do you mean?"
"You're going to need all the help you can get." Gwen said. "I can mend armour and sharpen swords…"
"And I know how to fight," Morgana continued.
"But y-y- you can't. I mean, why would you?"
Gwen was quick to answer. "If it was the other way around, you'd help us. You already have. You saved my life."
"And you helped me get the druid boy out of Camelot. We owe it to you." Morgana walked forward taking Merlynn's free hand. "Both of us." Merlynn smiled at her friends, touched. She never realised how much they cared about her.
-0-
"You got the food I prepared for you?" Gaius asked.
"Yes." Merlynn called out, shoving yet another blanket in her bag per Gaius' insistence.
"Be careful with the wine. You know what you're like. One whiff of a barmaid's apron and you're singing like a sailor."
"That happened once." Merlynn argued. Gaius gave her a look.
"Twice." Gaius just continued to look at her.
"I'll be fine," she nodded.
"Are you sure you don't want an extra blanket?" Gaius asked.
"It's okay, really. I'll be alright," she promised him. It did warm her heart how much he was worrying about her.
"Well, make sure you are. Do whatever it takes."
She smiled at that. Over the past few months she had been there, he really had become something like a farther to her.
He pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her head. She breathed in trying to memorise his scent. An interesting one of herbs, old books and soap. She held on tight, after all she didn't know when she would see him next.
-0-
Merlynn, Morgana, Gwen and Hunith rode all through the day, until it began to get dark, so they set up camp for the night. Gwen and Morgana were already sleeping while Merlynn sat with her mother by the camp fire.
"They shouldn't be here." Hunith was telling Merlynn. "Especially the Lady Morgana. Isn't she the King's ward?"
Merlynn smiled fondly at her friend. "Not that you'd know it. She's the only person I know who isn't frightened of him."
But Hunith worried still. "It won't make any difference to Kanen that they're women."
"It won't matter to him that I'm one either and yet you're not trying to send me back," Merlynn argued.
"Because I know that you never would."
Merlynn smiled at her mother before glancing worriedly at her friends. "I couldn't talk them out of coming."
Merlynn sighs bowing her head, rubbing her eyes. There was no point worrying about it now. They had come this far. She felt a hand gently brush through her hair making her sigh as her body relaxed. She looked back up at her mother, more specifically at the bruise that marred it.
"I want to make him pay for what he did to you."
Hunith shook her head softly. "Promise me you'll be careful. No one can find out about you."
"They won't. They never do." She didn't mention Lancelot. If would only make her mother worry.
"Get some rest." Hunith whispered before pressing a kiss to her daughter's head and heading to her bed roll.
Merlynn picked up a stick from the ground and gently stoked the fire. She then brought the singed tip to her lips and blew some flecks into the air.
"Draca," she whispered, watching as the flecks moved through the air before forming the shape of the Pendragon dragon sigil.
Later, Merlynn was rolling around on the ground trying to get comfortable when she heard a horse neighing from the woods. She quickly got up, unsheathing her sword as she did. She walked in silence for a few moments, wondering a few metres away from her camp in pursuit of the noise.
She held the sword out, ready for an attack. She felt a blade hit her back making her hold her arms out and freeze.
"I'd ask you for money, but I know you don't have any."
Merlynn smiled before spinning around. "Arthur!"
Unfortunately, as she spun, she had forgotten that she was holding a sword, this meant that poor Arthur had to duck in order to avoid losing his head.
She lowered her sword sheepishly.
"Put the sword down, Merlynn. You look ridiculous."
Arthur took the sword from her hand before they both walked back to the camp.
Arthur was quick to seat himself by the fire, cold from riding through the night to find them.
"How much further is it?" he asked, rubbing his hands together to warm them up.
"Er, maybe a few hours."
"How many men does Kanen have?"
Merlynn shrugged. "Erm, I'm not sure. I think, from what my mother said, maybe as many as forty."
Arthur nodded, his mind already trying to come up with some scenario that might help them get through this. He glanced over at Merlynn, only to see her trying to cover up a yawn. He pressed his lips together, fighting off a smile. "You should get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow."
"Thank you. Erm, I know you didn't have to come." She smiled up at him. She looked lovely with the orange glow that the fire cast on her face.
"I um… I brought you these." He pulled out something from his bag, something wrapped in a piece of cloth. He handed it over to her.
She slowly unwrapped the package, balancing it on her lap as she did. The material fell away, revealing two shiny daggers. They looked freshly forged and were rather beautiful. The handles were for the most part brown leather, except for a single silver band around the hilt. The design was simple, practical but still elegant. The blade was longer then the ones she had practised with, running from the tip of her middle finger to just passed her wrist. She looked up at Arthur her eyes sparkling a large smile stretched across her face.
He smiled back at her, getting lost in her eyes for a second before he cleared his throat and pointed to her bed roll.
"Get some sleep," he told her.
-0-
They awoke early the next morning and quickly packed up their camp. Morgana didn't seem surprised to see the prince the next morning. In fact, she smirked when she saw him, like she knew something that the others didn't. Hunith was very flustered to see the prince. Stuttering over her words and actions, Arthur was quick to assure her that she should feel no guilt in pulling him away from Camelot, that he was happy to be there and do what he could for her village.
They rest of the journey only took a few hours as promised and they arrived in Ealdor just in time to hear Mathew the farmer screaming for his life as a man rose his hand to strike him.
Arthur was quick to throw a sword. It lodged in the post by the bandit's head, surprising the man, making him pause in his swing.
Arthur dismounts and is quickly engaged by a bandit, Merlynn is quick to follow him.
"Kill them!" One of the bandits shouted. Merlynn assumed that he was Kanen.
Merlynn unsheathed the daggers that were tucked into her belt. She was ready for the bandit that came at her with his sword out. Quickly she held up both blades catching his mid swing. She managed to run one of her blades along his to free it before plunging the blade into his exposed throat. The man quickly fell. Merlynn looked down at her hand. It was stained red as was the blade in her hand, which suddenly felt a lot heavier with the life that it had claimed. She was distracted and another bandit took the chance to push her against a barn door behind her.
The man pointed the blade at her neck. He was just pulling it back to strike it home when Merlynn quickly uttered a spell under her breath.
"Hætende."
The bandit's sword heated up in his hand, forcing him to drop it. Merlynn quickly uses his distraction against him and slashed his neck with her blade. He fell to the ground dead.
She walked away from the barn door looking across the village in time to see Kanen mounting on to his horse.
"You'll pay for this with your lives! All of you!" He rode off. The rest of his bandits following behind him.
"You still up to the same old magic tricks again?"
Merlynn turned in shock. She knew that voice. Her old friend Will was stood behind her. He looked serious.
"Look, I thought I told you I didn't want your kind around here?"
They were both silent for a few seconds seeing who would break first. It was Will. A smile lit up his face. One stretched across her face to match.
"I miss you, too, Will."
She ran up to him, almost tackling him with the force of her hug.
"It's good to see you again," she whispered in his ear.
"How've you been," he asked her, pulling away. "I, er, hear you're skivvying for some prince."
Merlynn gave him a mock insulted look. "No. I wouldn't say I'm a skivvy."
Their conversation was cut short by Arthur.
"Merlynn! Gather the villagers, I need to talk to them." Merlynn was a little confused. He seemed to be glaring at the pair of them and she wasn't sure why exactly.
"Yeah, in a minute. I'm just talking..."
"Now, Merlynn." He interrupted her. "There isn't much time."
"Yes, Sire."
The villagers were quick to gather for the prince.
"I know Kanen's kind," he told them. "He'll be back. And when he is, you must be ready for him. First of all, we have to prepare for..."
"Am I the only one wondering who the hell this is?" Will questioned.
"I'm Prince Arthur of Camelot," Arthur told him politely. He didn't particularly like this man, whoever he was. He couldn't get the image of Merlynn hugging him out of his head. Who was this man to Merlynn?
"Yeah, and, er, I'm Prince William of Ealdor," Will said sarcastically, making Merlynn roll her eyes. She should have known he would be like this.
"Keep quiet. He's here to help us," Hunith shushed him.
"But he's made things worse," he argued. "Kanen will be back, and when he is, he'll be looking for revenge. You've just signed our death warrants."
"He saved Matthew's life!" Hunith called out again.
Arthur stepped closer, laying a hand on her shoulder. "That's alright, Hunith. This is his village. What would you have us do?"
"We can't fight against Kanen. He has too many men."
"So what's the alternative?" Arthur asked.
Will sighed. "Give him what he wants."
All the villagers shook their heads.
"Then what?" Arthur asked. He turned back to the villagers. "Those of you who don't starve to death will face him again next harvest! And the harvest after that."
"We'll manage. We'll survive," Will said.
"How?" they asked.
"The only way he can be stopped is if you stand up to him," Arthur told him.
"No. You just want the honour and glory of battle!" Will said looking to Merlynn. "That's what drives men like you! Look, if you want to fight, then go home and risk the lives of your own people, not ours!" With that, he stormed off.
"Will," Merlynn called out, running after him. She chased him all the way back to his house, unaware of the eyes that followed her.
She slowly approached him as he corrected the mess that the bandits had made. "He knows what he's doing. You've got to trust him. Look, when I first met Arthur, I was exactly like you. I hated him. I thought he was pompous and arrogant."
"Well, nothing's changed there, then," he interrupted her.
"But, in time, I came to respect him for what he stands for, what he does," she said passionately while setting a bench back up.
"Yeah, I know what he stands for: princes, kings, all men like him," Will spat.
Merlynn paused for a second, before approaching him. She gently lay her hand on his shoulder. "Will, don't bring what happened to your father into this."
Will shrugged her hand off of his shoulder before turning to her. "I'm not. Why are you defending him so much? You're just his servant."
"He's also my friend," she told him.
"Friends don't lord it over one another."
"He isn't like that."
"Really?" he questioned her. "Well, let's wait until the fighting begins and see who he sends in to die first. I guarantee you, it won't be him."
"I trust Arthur with my life," she told him defiantly. Why wouldn't he understand? Arthur was a good man. A great man, or at least he was becoming a great one.
"Is that so? So, he knows your secret, then?" he tried to make eye contact but she looked down at her feet. Yes, she trusted Arthur with almost anything, but she didn't think he was ready to know this. "Look, face it, Merlynn You're living a lie. Just like you were here. You're Arthur's servant, nothing more. Otherwise you'd tell him the truth."
He turned away from her, going back to tidying his home. She stood for a few seconds just staring at nothing. Tears started to gather in her eyes, of course she knew that everything he said was true, but to hear it out loud, was something different entirely. She lifted her hand to wipe away the tears but she caught a look at her hands. They still had the blood of the two bandits she'd killed on them. She quickly left Will's house. She was quickly making her way through the village, determined to get to the woods before she ended up crying in front of a whole village. However, she never reached the woods, she was stopped by Morgana. The lady looked at her friend, her hands stained with blood, tears in her normally joyous blue eyes. She could tell that Merlynn was close to breaking down right in front of everyone.
"Come on a walk with me," Morgana ordered. She then took Merlynn away from prying eyes, so that she could have her moment of privacy.
-0-
That evening, the Camelot party had settled down to sleep in Merlynn's childhood home. Morgana, Gwen and Hunith got the bed whilst Merlynn and Arthur were camped out on the floor. Her feet were by his head, and his by hers.
"Have you always slept on the floor?" Arthur asked her.
"Yeah. The bed I've got in Camelot's luxury by comparison," she told him.
"Must've been hard," Arthur whispered.
"Mmm. Like a rock," she teased him, unable to help herself.
"I didn't mean the ground. I meant, for you. It must've been difficult."
It was interesting talking about her life before she met him. Somethimes it felt like her life hadn't began until she had gone to Camelot.
"Mmm. Not really," she told him. "I didn't know any different. Life's simple out here. You eat what you grow and everyone pitches in together. As long as you've got food on the table and a roof over your head, you're happy."
"Sounds...nice."
Merlynn smiled. "You'd hate it."
"No doubt," he stated, making her laugh. He smiled at hearing it. "Why'd you leave?"
"Things just... changed."
"How?" She didn't answer him. He stuck his foot in her face making her laugh and push it away. "Come on, stop pretending to be interesting. Tell me."
Merlynn thought about it for a few seconds before answering. "I just didn't fit in anymore. I wanted to find somewhere that I did."
"Had any luck?" Arthur asked. Little did she know how much of his heart was resting on her answer. He wanted her to feel like she belonged in Camelot, like she belonged with him.
"I'm not sure yet," she supposed she would never truly know until he knew about her magic.
They were silent for a minute when she suddenly felt a hand take hers.
"I know you killed those bandits today."
She said nothing in reply.
"I know it upset you. It's not easy killing. But if its any consolation, you fought well."
"Thank you," she whispered. They both lay in silence for a moment. Neither seemed to realise they were still holding hands.
"We'll start training the men tomorrow. It's gonna be a long day. Get the candle," Arthur ordered, pulling away from her to turn over.
Merlynn blew out the candle, settling down in her childhood home.
-0-
The next morning the party awoke early and began to dress for the day. Merlynn was helping Arthur to put on his jacket.
"You still not learned how to dress yourself?" Morgana teased the prince as she tied the braces to her wrists.
"You don't have a dog and fetch the stick yourself." He then turned to his servant. "No offence, Merlynn."
"None taken."
Hunith walked into the room with a bowl in her hands. "Prince Arthur, you didn't finish your breakfast."
Arthur tried to fake some enthusiasm at the meal. "Didn't I?"
Arthur took the bowl from her hands, smiling until she turned her back then he gazed disgustingly down at the broth. It was lumpy and runny at the same time. Arthur had never seen a meal that looked so disgusting.
"Come on, eat up," Morgana teased.
Arthur then proceeded to pretend to eat his meal making sounds as if he was enjoying it before quickly shoving it into Merlynn's hands. He didn't see the annoyed look on her face.
"Right. Let's get going. We need wood, and lots of it."
"Of course." Merlynn nodded. She quickly finished off the food in the bowl as he left and handed it back to her mother. "Arthur said it was lovely."
Hunith smiled at her daughter. She waited until Morgana and Gwen had left before turning back to her daughter.
"He must care for you a great deal."
Merlynn looked at her mother doubtfully. "Arthur'd do the same for any village. That's just the way he is."
Hunith shook her head. "It's more than that. He's here for you."
Merlynn felt a blush spread across her cheeks as she shook her head. "I'm just his servant."
"Give him more credit than that. He likes you. A lot."
"That's because he doesn't know me. And if he did, I'd probably be dead by now."
Hunith approached her, resting a hand on her daughters' cheek. "You don't really believe that, do you?"
Merlynn wasn't sure what to say so she just gave her mother a kiss on the cheek and headed out for the woods, axe in hand.
"Merlynn!" Merlynn turned at the call of her name. Will was running up to her. "Where are you going with that thing?"
"What does it look like? We need wood," she said, slightly guarded after their conversation the day before.
"We both know that you don't need an axe to fell a tree," he teased her.
"And I remember the trouble it got me into. I nearly flattened Old Man Simmons."
Will laughed. "Ha. Yeah, well, he deserved it, stupid old crow."
Merlynn looked up absent minded. "Mmm. He never did like me anyway."
"Well, even less after that."
She laughed for a moment before she looked at him seriously. "Why are you being like this?"
Will's smile fell from his face. "You know why. Why did you leave?"
Merlynn sat down on the log. "It wasn't what I wanted." He sat down next to her. "My mother was worried. When she found out you knew, she was so angry."
"I wouldn't've told anyone."
"Well, I know you wouldn't. I really missed you." She nudged him. "I named my dog after you."
"What?" he laughed looking at her in disbelief.
"My dog. He is playful and he smells, just like you."
Will laughed again before his laughter faded.
"You'd be able to defeat Kanen on your own, wouldn't you?
Merlynn shrugged. "I'm not sure. Maybe."
"Well, so what's stopping you? So, what if Arthur finds out?"
"I don't expect you to understand," she said getting up from the log.
"Try me."
"One day Arthur will be a great king, but he needs my help. And if anyone ever found out about my powers, I'd have to leave Camelot for good."
"Are you telling me you'd rather keep your magic a secret for Arthur's sake than use it to protect your friends and family?"
They stood in silence neither wanting to talk about it anymore.
-0-
By the time Merlynn returned with the wood, Arthur was already training the men.
"I won't be able to teach you everything there is to know about fighting with a sword, but you can learn the basics: the stance, how to parry a blow, how to land your own." He walked up and down the line addressing the men. "On my count! One! Two! Three! Four! Now, you may have to watch for the feint. So, keep your feet moving, and only stay in range long enough to land your blow. And again. One! Two! Three! Four!"
Merlynn wondered over to Morgana and Gwen who were watching the training as they sharpened the swords.
"There is no way they're going to be able to hold Kanen off," Morgana commented.
"Men aren't the only ones who can fight," Gwen said lifting her sword up.
Merlynn watched as Arthur put Matthew on guard duty since he was struggling with the training.
-0-
"We don't stand a chance," Gwen whispered to Morgana that night.
"Arthur can't see that. He's too stubborn."
Neither of them knew that Merlynn was awake and listening to their conversation.
"Why do you think he came here?" Gwen asked.
"The same reason we did: Merlynn. Arthur may act like he doesn't care, but he wouldn't be here if he didn't. There's no way he would have let her come here to fight on her own."
-0-
The next day Arthur was speaking to the men, discussing battle plans.
"We're not going to be able to defend Ealdor with sword and sinew alone. We're going to need a plan. We need to find some way of limiting their mobility and drawing them into a trap. If we fight them on their terms, then..."
He was interrupted by the sound of a woman screaming. They all ran out of the house searching for the cause of the noise when they saw Matthew's body slung over the back of a horse.
"Get him down from there!" Arthur shouted, running to the horse. Some of the men pull him down, revealing an arrow in his back with a note attached to it.
"What does it say?" Merlynn asked as Arthur took the note from the arrow and she knelt down next to the body to examine him.
"Make the most of this day, it will be your last." Arthur read.
Matthew's fiancé ran in, hearing the commotion. "Matthew! No! No! No!"
"You did this! Look what you've done! You've killed him!" Will yelled.
"He's not dead!" Merlynn suddenly shouted, drawing the attention of everyone. Matthew was injured yes, but he was still breathing.
"Take him to my house," she ordered the men around her. They were quick to pick up their friend and carry him to Hunith's home. Merlynn followed them hoping that she had been taught enough about medicine from Gaius to save him.
-0-
As soon as she felt safe to do so, she left to find Will. Gwen had told her that he had continued his assault on Arthur.
"Don't bother, Merlynn. I'm not interested," Will said as soon as Merlynn walked into his house.
"You should be. Because tomorrow Kanen attacks, and whether you like it or not, we'll have to fight."
"Not if I'm not here." She noticed how he was packing a bag.
"Well, that's up to you, but the rest of us are staying. Join us, Will! This isn't about Arthur; this is about your friends. Are you really going to abandon them?" she asked.
"What, like you did?"
Merlynn refused to let him bate her. "I'm here now."
"Yeah. Yeah, you are. And you could end this. If you used your magic, then no one else would have to die."
"You know I can't," she whispered.
"Can't or won't?" She said nothing. "I'm not the one abandoning these people, Merlynn. You are."
She still said nothing. She turned away from him before storming off. Leaving him to his thoughts.
-0-
Arthur was just sharpening his sword when Merlynn plonked down next to him.
He didn't say anything, still stewing after Will's earlier words.
Merlynn chose to break the silence. "William's father was killed fighting for King Cenred, so he doesn't trust anyone of nobility."
"Do you think the villagers believed him?"
Merlynn shook her head. "No. He's always been a troublemaker. They're used to ignoring him."
"And if he's right?" He wasn't looking at her, he wouldn't look at her.
"He isn't," she told him without hesitation. Little did she know her mother was listening to them from inside the house.
"I'm treating these men like soldiers, and they're not. You've seen them fight. They...they haven't got a clue!" He sighed, rubbing his hand down his face. "You need to tell them all to leave the village before Kanen returns."
"No, we're going to stay. We're going to fight, and we're going to win," she argued.
"Merlynn, it can't be done. The odds are too great."
"It can. We're going to make Kanen rue the day he ever came to this village. All you need to do is get the men ready for battle, and the rest will take care of itself."
"How?" he questioned.
"You've just got to believe in them. Because if you don't, they'll sense it, and the battle'l be lost before it's even begun." She stared him, making sure to look him in the eyes. He stared back into those enchanting blue depths and all he could hope was that he wouldn't fail her.
A breeze passed them causing some hair to fall into her face. Before she was able to tuck it away, he beat her to it. He reached up and tucked the hair behind her ear. He let his hand linger against her cheek as her breath hitched. Her skin was soft, and God she was beautiful.
-0-
That night Arthur addressed all the villagers in one of biggest houses in the village. Is was the only way to fit everyone in.
"Tomorrow morning, the women and children should gather what belongings they can carry and go to the woods," Arthur began.
"We're not going anywhere!" Gwen interrupted walking forward to face the prince. Merlynn smiled at her friend. She really was coming out of her shell.
"I know you want to help. The women can't stay here. It's too dangerous," Arthur gently argued.
"The women have as much right to fight for their lives as the men do!" Merlynn chipped in.
"But none of you know how to fight," Arthur commented.
"The more of us there are, the better chance we stand!" Gwen pointed out.
All the village women stepped forward in solitude. They would fight.
"This is your home. If you want to fight to defend it, that's your choice." Merlynn smiled at him as he turned to look at her specifically. "I'd be honoured to stand alongside you." He turned and looked back at everyone.
"Kanen attacks tomorrow. Kanen's brutal. He fights only to kill, which is why he will never defeat us. Look around. In this circle, we're all equals. You're not fighting because someone's ordering you to, you're fighting for so much more than that. You fight for your homes. You fight for your family. You fight for your friends. You fight for the right to grow crops in peace. And if you fall, you fall fighting for the noblest of causes: fighting for your very right to survive! And when you're old and grey, you'll look back on this day, and you'll know you earned the right to live every day in between! So you fight! For your family! For your friends! For Ealdor!"
The people all pulled out their swords and raised them into the air.
"For Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor!" They chanted into the night. Arthur looked to Merlynn again, all he saw in her face was pride. He was finally believing in himself.
-0-
Hunith was sitting in her home, trying not to think of the trials that would come the next day. She looked up when Merlynn walked through the door, hanging up her jacket as she did.
"Come here," Hunith called.
Merlynn sat down beside her. Her mother stroked her cheek gently.
"I do love you, my girl."
"What's wrong?" Merlynn asked.
"I should never have gone to Camelot. I've ruined everything for you," Hunith said, looking at her daughter sadly.
"You haven't. Why would you say that?"
Hunith sighed. "I know what you're planning to do."
"If it comes to a choice between saving people's lives and revealing who I really am," she shrugs. "there is no choice."
"You can't let Arthur know about your gift," Hunith said grabbing her daughter's hand.
"Why not? Maybe it's meant to be this way. And if he doesn't accept me for who I really am, then he's not the friend I hoped he was."
-0-
The next morning Arthur was stood in the woods getting some air when Merlynn approached him with a bowl of food.
"Here, you'll need your strength," she handed him the bowl.
"Thanks."
She turned to walk away from him but his next words stopped her.
"I think."
She turned to look at him.
"Food is scarce here. This is more food then my mother would normally eat in a day and you're getting it twice. She's doing her best and you shouldn't turn your nose up at it just because you are used to better. So, stop being a prat and eat your food."
She began to walk away when he called out her name. She chose to ignore him and kept walking.
"Merlynn!"
She felt a hand grab her wrist and spin her around.
"You're right. I'm sorry."
She stared at him for a few seconds, she could see the sincerity on his face.
"You're still a prat," she told him, walking back to the house. Arthur watched her walk away a small upturn to his lips.
-0-
Both Merlynn and Arthur were preparing for the upcoming battle in Merlynn's childhood home. The air was tense, few words were being
Merlynn was about to help Arthur into his armour when he held his hand up halting her.
"No, not today." He gently lay his hand on hers. "Put on your own."
She nodded and slowly pulled on the chain mail that Gwen had given her. It was a little big for her, a little uncomfortable and heavy but she new that it could make the difference between a mortal wound and her life. Still she was terrified. This could be the day that Arthur found out who she was, who she really was. Her hands trembled as she tried to buckle one of the braces on her wrist. The leather kept slipping from between her fingers. Arthur seemed to notice her struggle and gently took her arm into his hands and pulled the leather tight.
"You ready?" he asked her.
"My throat's dry," she told him.
"Me too." Arthur nodded.
They were silent for a moment, until Arthur reached out his hand to her. She hesitantly took it, expecting him to shake it, but instead he brought her hand up to his mouth. He gently pressed his lips against the back of her hand, keeping them there a few seconds before releasing her hand.
"It's been an honour."
A blush lit up her cheeks but she still had a ball of worry settled into her chest.
"Whatever happens out there today, please don't think any differently of me," she pleaded with him.
"I won't. It's alright to be scared, Merlynn."
"That's not what I meant."
"What is it? If you've got something to say, now's the time to say it."
Merlynn stared into his eyes, maybe he would prefer if she told him now, as appose to possibly finding out on the battlefield. She wanted to tell him. He had been different recently more, understanding, softer. Maybe he would understand her. Maybe it would only change things for the better. She opened her mouth to tell him when Morgana poked her head through the door.
"Arthur. They've crossed the river." Both Merlynn and Arthur darted out of the house.
-0-
Arthur walked down the line of villagers. They were all pressed together against the side of the house waiting for Kanan to turn up.
"You ready?" he asked them.
"Ready," one of the villagers said.
"For Ealdor," Arthur told them.
He reached Gwen and paused.
"Are you frightened?"
"Not in the slightest."
Arthur nodded to her. Gwen, Arthur and Merlin all ran to their agreed hiding spots. They all watched in silent anticipation as Kanan and his men rode out of the woods and into the heart of the village.
"Hold. No one moves until they give the signal," Arthur muttered to them.
Kanan and his men had halted and their eyes were scanning the village. Not a single peasant in sight.
"Hold," Arthur reiterated.
"Come out, come out wherever you are," Kanan mockingly called out.
"Now, pull!" Gwen yelled; from her position she and a villager pulled up the hidden gate, therefore trapping the riders inside of a small area.
Arthur and Merlynn were eagerly waiting for Morgana to light the fire with the flint, as was her job. But no fire appeared.
"Now, Morgana. What are you waiting for?" After a few more seconds without fire Arthur muttered to himself again. "Something's gone wrong."
Merlynn didn't waste a second. She took off running towards where Morgana was, ignoring Arthur calling her name.
Kanan spotted her and immediately ordered his men to fire arrows at her.
"There's one. Get her!"
Arthur breaths out in relief when he see's that Merlynn successfully dodged the two arrows that came for her.
Merlynn skids to Morgana, landing on her knees beside the lady, who was desperately trying to light the fire but the flint wasn't sparking enough to create a flame.
"Give me the flint," Merlynn ordered. Morgana handed her the flint and Merlynn pretended to use it as she muttered a spell under her breath.
"Baerne."
The fire immediately lit up, causing the prepared line to take the flames to the wooden posts, trapping the riders.
"Come back! Don't run away!" Kanan ordered his men as some struggled to get their horses under control.
"Now!" Arthur yelled. The villagers of Ealdor gave a mighty battle cry before they dived from their hiding places. The people who normally tended to fields and cared for livestock fought like tigers protecting their homes. They did all that they could, scratching, biting they fought valiantly, they fought nobly, but Merlynn could tell, it wouldn't be enough.
As Merlynn watched her people, she failed to notice the rider coming up behind her, sword ready to bring a swift end to the young witch. Luckily for her, she had an old friend watching her back. Will jumper from a roof, wearing his fathers armour he unhorsed the rider.
Merlynn heard the commotion and turned to see what the noise was, and she felt a smile stretch across her face as she spotted her close friend.
"I didn't think you were coming," she commented.
Will smiled at her. "Neither did I."
They both spun away from each other, pushing their backs together as they fought for their lives.
Having dispatched a few men each they turned to assess the situation.
"There's too many of them," Will said.
"Not for me there isn't." Merlynn raised her hand. "Cume thoden."
A windstorm started to form at her feet. Slowly growing bigger and bigger it soon attracted the attention of a certain Camelot Prince. Kanan's men were all blasted away from the villagers and those who weren't blasted away fled, having noticed the battle turning. All except one.
Their cheering was interrupted by a piercing shout. "Pendragon!"
Though Kanan was a good fighter it only took a few swings from Arthur to lower Kanna to the floor.
Arthur immediately marched for Merlynn and Will. Merlynn felt the smile slip from her face at his angered expression. She expected him to share in their elation at winning but his expression was anything but victorious.
"Who did that?" he demanded.
"What?" Merlynn questioned.
"Wind like that doesn't just appear from nowhere. I know magic when I see it." His eyes darted between the pair. "One of you made that happen."
Merlynn hesitated before stepping forward. "Arthur..."
"Look out!" Will cried suddenly, pushing Arthur aside and taking an arrow to the chest.
"Will!" Merlynn cried darting forward to catch her friend.
"You just saved my life." Arthur muttered looking down at the man in shock.
"Yeah," Will muttered, grimacing in pain. "Don't know what I was thinking."
"Come on! Get him inside!" Arthur called out to some of the men in the village. A small group of volunteers ran forward, hoisting the injured man into their arms and carrying him into his house and laying him down on the table.
"That's twice I've saved you," Will muttered to the prince.
"Twice?" Arthur questioned confused.
"Yeah, it was me. I'm the one that used the magic."
"Will, don't." Merlynn brokenly cried to her injured friend.
Arthur glanced at Merlynn, he could see how tears had already started to gather in her eyes.
"It's alright, Merlynn," Will hushed her grabbing her hand tightly. "I won't be alive long enough for anyone to do anything to me. I did it. I saw how desperate things were becoming and I had to do something."
"You're a sorcerer?" Arthur asked.
"Yeah. What are you gonna do? Kill me?"
Merlynn waited for Arthur's reply, desperate to know what he would do. The prince looked to her and he just knew that he couldn't do anything to Will.
"No. Of course not," He reassured the man. He lay his hand on Merlynn's shoulder giving it a little squeeze. She didn't even look at him. "Do what you can for him." He and the others then left. Letting Merlynn and Will share their last moments in private.
Will stared up at Merlynn trying his best to muster up a smile for her.
"I was right about him. I told you he was going to get me killed."
"You're not going to die," Merlynn told him, trying to think of a spell that would heal him. But she couldn't think, she could barely breath let alone think. A weight was settling on her chest and it was pressing harder and harder, she felt like any second now her chest might cave in.
"You're a good woman, Merlynn. A great woman. And one day, you're going to be servant to a great king. Now you can still make that happen."
"Thanks to you," she whispered. His voice was getting quieter and quieter forcing her to lean closer to him, her face now right next to his.
"I would do anything for you Merlynn," he paused looking up at her. Adoration filled his face. An expression that she had never seen on him before. "I love you."
She stared at him in shock.
"Always have. Don't worry, I know you never felt the same. I'm glad I got to see you again. This place has been boring without you."
"Yeah, you too," She smiled down at him softly stroking his face.
"Merlynn. Merlynn, I'm scared."
"Don't be. It's going to be alright," she whispered trying to comfort him. She slowly lent down and pressed a kiss to his trembling lips. They were coated in sweat and there was a hint of blood on them, but still she was thankful that she could do this for him. It was not their first kiss. When she was eleven years old she had kissed him when they were playing. They had both been pretending to be knights, Merlynn refused to be a princess, and she had done it after they had managed to save the young queen, a chicken, from the evil monster, a pig.
When she pulled away from him, he was smiling at her softly.
"Merlynn..." he whispered. She watched as the light faded from his eyes and he moved on from this world.
Merlynn shook his shoulder. "Will?"
He gave no response. She tried shaking him harder as her desperation settled in. "Will? No! No! Wake up. Wake up!" She was now yelling hysterically. She wanted Will to wake up. She needed Will to wake up.
"Will please! Please… wake up." Her voice broke off as the sobs took over. Her knees buckled as she fell against the table.
After hearing the screams, Hunith ran in, she let her own tear escape when she saw the state that her daughter was in. She gently wrapped her arms around her daughter's shoulders. Holding her trembling body to her own. All the while Merlynn kept Will's hand clenched in her own.
-0-
Later on that day, when they had managed to extract Merlynn from Will's body, the entire village stood around Will's funeral pyre, paying their respects to their fallen friend.
Arthur was stood beside Merlynn, trying to offer her up the support he could. Before they had lit the fire she had lain a shoddily carved wooden sword on top of Will's body. When Arthur asked what is was she told him that both she and Will had these fake swords left over from their childhoods, she had felt that he should be burned with his. A last salute to both of their childhoods.
"I'm sorry. I know he was a close friend," Arthur remarked.
"He still is," Merlynn told him, not taking her eyes from the pyre.
"You knew he was a sorcerer, didn't you? That's what you were going to tell me?" Arthur questioned hesitantly. He didn't really want to be doing this now but he neede to address the issue.
"Yes. It was," Merlynn lied.
"You know how dangerous magic is. You shouldn't've kept this from me, Merlynn,"
"Arthur would you please just-" she cut off her angry retort. She didn't want to have this conversation now. She didn't want to address Arthur's stupidity right now.
"Will was the best man I have ever known. He wouldn't hurt a fly, magic or no magic so would you please just shut up."
She didn't see the shocked look Arthur sent her, she just walked to her mother who was stood to the side watching the interaction.
"You better be going," Hunith remarked.
Merlynn shook her head. "I don't have to go."
"Yes, you do."
"If anything were to happen to you..."
"I know where to find you." Hunith reached up and cupped her daughter's cheek.
"You have to go, Merlynn. You belong at Arthur's side. I've seen how much he needs you. How much you need him. You're like two sides of the same coin."
Merlynn shook her head at the familiar words.
"I've heard someone say that about us before. I'm going to miss you." Merlynn whispered pulling her mother into a hug.
"I'm going to miss you, too. When you left, you were just a girl. Now look at you. I'm so proud of you."
Merlynn, rode away from her mother, Arthur, Gwen and Morgana with her. Her mother's wise words echoing in her mind.
"When the time is right, the truth will be known. Until then, you must keep your talents hidden. It's better for everyone."
So Merlynn left Ealdor, a wooden sword attached to her saddle.
Arthur glanced over at his servent. They hadn't spoken since the funeral pyre, but he felt slightly relieved that she was returning with them. Perhaps there relationship hadn't been ruined by their differing politics.
Author's Note:
I can't believe its been so long since I last updated. I'm very sorry. There's not really an excuse. I don't want to promise that you'll be getting more regular chapters because I don't want to disappoint you, but hopefully I should get a few more chapter done this summer. I haven't forgotten this story and I have every intention of finishing it. Never fear. Thank you to everyone who is still reading. Please feel free to leave reviews I enjoy reading them very much.