Out of Time

AvalonReeseFanFics

A/N: I AM BACK BITCHES! I'm so sorry it's taken me this long. I had major writer's block. For EVERYTHING! Not just this story. I just couldn't write a word, and when I could I couldn't get anything that I liked out for this story. But I've got my mojo back! I ALSO GOT A COVER FOR THIS STORY! Do you see? DO YOU SEE IT?! Oh gosh I love it! It's sooo pretty. I make no promises about updating regularly cause I'm super busy and trying to read a lot too, but I'll try.

Also the 150th review is going to get a special prize! So don't forget to review!

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Chapter 31: Out of Training

Arthur threw Addison up against a near-by cottage, being sure the area was shadowy enough to hide them, and clear of any prying eyes before going about what he was about to do. Her fingers tangled into his hair, pulling his mouth to hers before Arthur was finished with his scan of the perimeter. He didn't even care, he kissed her back, his arms encircling her, crushing her to his chest.

He had just finished making an announcement to the villagers. He had his work cut out for him, taking these farmers and turning them into warriors before Kanen's return. He had wanted to get the lady Morgana and Gwen settled but then he noticed all the cut eye Addison was getting from the villagers, and how they kept a wide berth of her. He remembered the fear of watching Kanen with her, how the bandit's eyes had lingered on her. He knew what that man wanted, what he would do to her if he could. Arthur had pulled her aside, not for this, but because he was mad.

He drew away, mostly to breathe, but also to begin his lecture. "Are you out of your damn mind?" he snapped. "What was that? Since when can you do that? And why the hell would you do it now?"

He was referring to, of course, the incident where Addison used her magic to get a bunch of bandits to dance with her. In front of all the peasants. Who now knew she was a witch. Luckily, Addison had guessed what this secret meeting was about and had hoped to distract him with sweet kisses, to no avail.

"I scared him off, didn't I? I wanted him to think twice before he came back here. And I unno, I just can. It takes a lot of effort, not going to lie, I'm really tired right now. I'm all weak at the knees, if you let go I may fall down," she replied. Instinctively Arthur's arms tightened around her and lowered her feet to the ground so she could settle.

He found himself smirking at her. "That's probably just from the kiss."

Addison smiled up to him and suddenly Arthur was kissing her again. She allowed him to, though she shouldn't have, and Arthur found himself between her legs which was not a good place for him to be.

"I'm still angry with you," he whispered against her lips and though he could feel Addison smiling against him she said nothing.

Arthur wanted nothing more than to free the barriers between him and Addison, to sink into that heat that had been beckoning him, but he knew she hadn't packed the potion to deal with the side-effects of a tumble with him. Not to mention, they hadn't actually gone that far since their one tryst. Not for the lack of desire, but out of fear of getting caught, and a bit out of awkwardness. Arthur wasn't sure how to approach the subject. How does one go about asking the woman they're secretly courting to join him in bed without sounding like a complete and utter scoundrel?

Besides, that wasn't the only reason he wanted Addison in his bed. He enjoyed her company and the coolness of her body against his heat. He wanted to both fall asleep and wake up with her in his arms and he wanted to do so without fearing retribution or punishment from his father.

Arthur pulled himself away from her before it could go any further. He cleared his throat and wondered if it was disappointment shining in Addison eyes. "I, I have to help with…" he stuttered and Addison nodded.

"Yes, you probably should go," she replied.

Arthur leaned in and quickly reclaimed her mouth for a brief kiss. "We'll talk about this matter later," he whispered into her ear to which Addison just nodded.

Arthur took half a step away from her and then turned back. "Please don't do anymore magic," he pleaded. "I don't know what these people will do with the knowledge. I don't want it getting back to my father. I don't want to see you get hurt over this."

He saw something in Addison's eyes then. A defiance. He knew she wanted to help people, he knew that she wanted to use her powers for good. But he also knew that she was on thin ice with his father. She had his favour now, but she could easily lose it. They'd talk about it later, he'd present his case much more eloquently but first, Arthur had to get back to training these villagers.

That night, after spending a grueling day looking over weapons and setting up a perimeter, Arthur and Merlin had a heart to heart. Well kind of. Arthur could tell that Merlin was hiding something, and he sort of felt bad that Merlin came from a place where he didn't have a bed to sleep on, so he tried to get it out of him. After that they went to sleep and at some point, during the night, Addison thought it smart to curl up between the two of them.

Luckily, he woke up before the rest did and managed to rouse her too, making it look like they had just woken up together and not spent the night together on a floor. Appearances were everything after all.

He had Merlin help dress him, because what was the point of being here with his servant if his servant wasn't going to do his job? And ignored Morgana's pointed jabs at him.

Merlin's mother had pointed out that he hadn't finished eating, but how could he? That tasteless slop wasn't fit to feed the pigs. He pretended to eat the rest and then shoved the still full bowl into Gwen's hands before running out. He did have the men to train after all.

Addison was sent off with Merlin to get wood because it was the only thing Arthur trusted her to do while he was busy training the villagers. She was supposed to stay close to Merlin but she couldn't resist running ahead. She used the excuse of scouting a head but really she was just excited to be out in the fresh air and wanted to explore the woods. She heard someone shout out for Merlin, asking him where he was going. After Merlin's reply to that she heard the same voice say:

"We both know that you don't need an axe to fell a tree."

Addison immediately popped her head out of the bushes startling the boy who was following Merlin. He was about Merlin's age with floppy brown hair he was wearing layers even though it wasn't that cold out. He eyed her with suspicious green eyes.

Merlin looked between them and then said: "Oh, Will, this is Addison, Addison this is my friend Will."

Addison smiled and said: "Oh, Hello," just as Will said: "Oh, the Prince's consort."

Addison's eyebrows drew together as she turned her frown to Merlin. "I think your friend just called me a ho," she said.

Merlin blushed. "No, no, he wouldn't do that. He meant it nicely," he said, shooting Will a knowing glare of warning.

"What is a hoe?" Will asked instead. "Do you mean the digging tool?"

"A whore," Addison answered with her arms crossed over her chest, daring him to keep going.

"Then Merlin's right. That's rude. I was calling you whatever you'd call a girl who is intimate with the prince," he explained.

Merlin groaned at this but Will was grinning and after some consideration Addison decided to smile too. "I think you're attempting to be funny," she said softly to which he nodded. "Well you're not, so stop it."

And this made Will laugh. Addison came to sit beside them, right in between the two of them on the log. There was a silence about them and Addison knew she had interrupted a heart to heart.

"So… am I right in guessing that Will knows about you?" Addison asked. Merlin nodded.

"He doesn't need an ex to fell a tree. The last time he tried it he nearly flattened old man Simmons," Will replied with a smile.

"He never did like me anyway," Merlin mused.

"And even less after that," Will reminded him.

The two boys fell silent and Addison looked between them. "Uhm… this feels totally awkward," she said. "Something's clearly wrong, what's wrong?"

They turned to stare at her. Will broke eye contact first, turning to stare at his toes. "Merlin left," he whispered after a moment's pause. "Why did you leave?"

Merlin frowned lightly, he stared imploringly at Will. "It wasn't what I wanted. My mother was worried. When she found out you knew she was so angry!"

"I wouldn't have told anyone," Will said immediately. Addison could tell that this was true, she didn't need to know him that well she just instinctively understood that Will and Merlin were close enough that Will wouldn't have done anything to put Merlin in danger.

Merlin must have known this too because he immediately replied with: "I know you wouldn't."

The two boys fell silent again and Addison wondered what to say. How to make it better between them. When it came to girls and their arguing there would have been some shouting, some crying and then they all would have gone out for drinks. But boys weren't like her girlfriends, she wasn't sure what the protocol was.

"You'd be able to defeat Kanen on your own, wouldn't you?" Will wondered, a sort of devious smirk on his face. Like he already knew it was true and he just wanted Merlin to see it.

Merlin shrugged. "I'm not sure. Maybe," he replied.

Thought it was the most glowing of responses Will sure acted like it was. "So what's stopping you? So what if Arthur finds out?"

This was where things were going to get rough. Addison knew it already. There were things that Merlin was trying to keep secret from even her. Though she had already guessed what it was. This need to be with Arthur at all times wasn't for his own enjoyment, though he was starting to enjoy, and she was starting to suspect he had come to actually like Arthur. No, like her, Merlin was trying to keep Arthur on the right path. And he wasn't certain he could do that if Arthur knew he had magic.

Had Merlin tried to talk to her about it she would have told him it wouldn't have mattered. But he hadn't tried to talk to her about it and she didn't think it was her place to pry. Yet.

Merlin hunched forward, his shoulders up as if to protect himself. "I don't expect you to understand."

"Try me," Will urged. Merlin shot to his feet and Will followed. Addison wisely stayed seated. The boys looked like they had forgotten all about her and she was enjoying being the impartial observer for once.

"One day Arthur will be a great King, but he needs my help. If anyone ever found out about my powers I'd have to leave Camelot for good." Merlin explained. Well, that was more than Addison had ever gotten out of him.

To Addison this made sense, or well, she could see where Merlin was coming from. Will was not as insightful. "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?" he asked.

Addison had to concede that Will did have a point. Merlin didn't have an answer to that, instead he stared back at his village, the place where he grew up a look of great concern and worry on his face. Addison had had enough, she jumped to her feet and clapped her hands startling both boys. Proving that they had, in fact, forgotten she was there.

"Okay, well this was an enlightening conversation but if we don't return with firewood Arthur's going to come looking and it won't be me that he yells at. So, we're going to table this talk and come back to it later. I'm sure we can find a happy medium, just you know… later… once the two of you calm down," she said.

Will walked away. Merlin picked up his ax and walked in the opposite direction leaving Addison alone at the stump.

"Alright, lets see if I can find something else to do then," she said and then skipped back towards the village and where Arthur was waiting.

It had been a rough day for Arthur. First, he had poorly trained recruits. Obviously, he had assumed they'd have little to no training, but he didn't think they'd be this hard to shape up. He had taken the village leader, Matthew, who was probably the worst out of the bunch and given him sentry duty. That led to Addison wanting to go with him. Arthur was immediately against it. But she had begged, pleaded and rationalized with him and once she promised that if there were any sight of Kanen's men she would run far and fast back to Arthur he allowed her to go.

This led him to where he was right at that moment. They had been training hard all day but at that moment they were taking a break. He had left Morgana and Gwen in charge of weapons, he figured it would be the easiest way to keep the two girls out of harm way and out of his hair. He couldn't have put Addison with them as he didn't trust her with sharp objects anymore.

So, he was surprised when Morgana showed up at the well while Arthur was getting a drink for himself.

"Looks like the battle's already fought and lost," she whispered, her voice low so the men couldn't hear her. Gwen was standing with her.

Arthur shot a glance at his makeshift army. He didn't want them to think he was down hearted as well.

"They'll toughen up," he said instead. God, he hoped he sounded convincing.

Gwen followed his stare. "Well… they'll need to."

Arthur immediately felt a change in topic was necessary and interrupted her before either girl could say anything else about how abysmal the training was going. "How're we doing for weapons?"

"There isn't much, but we should be able to scrape together what you need," Morgana assured him.

Well that was good news.

"It's not the weapons that worry us. It's having enough people to use them," Gwen told him. She shot a quick glance at Morgana who gave her a soft nod before she quickly added: "We think the women should be allowed to fight."

Arthur shook his head. That was not good news at all.

"You haven't enough men," Morgana added, which was true but he didn't need to hear it at that time. "If they were trained soldiers, maybe you'd stand a chance. But they're not."

Arthur was too tired to argue. She had a point. These weren't trained soldiers, they were farmers. But women going into battle? No, that wasn't a good option for anyone.

After a moment's pause he turned away from her. "It's too dangerous," he told her not wanting to look her in the eye when he did. He knew what he'd see on her face.

The following morning, Addison had been allowed out on patrol with Matthew again, since there had been no incidents the day before. She had had fun, she had reported. No magical outbursts, and she learned that the villagers actually thought her quite brave and that she might be like a secret weapon sent to save them. The very thought of that had put ice in Arthur's veins. He was not allowing her on the battlefield no matter how useful her powers were.

He had called a meeting in the store room. He talked about how they would need a strategy as they could not win against Kanen in a fully proper assault. The people seemed to like this idea better then running head long into battle. He was going to tell them of his grand plan but a scream interrupted him.

Arthur had all but forgotten to be worried about Addison being out on watch with an untrained farm hand on his horse. He had been too preoccupied. But that worry all came back at the thought of Kanen attacking this village and Arthur not knowing where she was. The worry tripled when he realized it was his horse returning to the village in a panic. A body was slumped over the horse's back, an arrow shaft sticking out of its back. Once Arthur got his horse to stop they could confirm who it was. Matthew, the village leader who had gone out with Addison.

Arthur's heart stopped in his chest, where was Addison?

There wasn't a second horse, her horse, galloping up the path. But what did that mean? Had she gotten an arrow to her back and her horse had run somewhere else? Was she hurt in the forest lost and looking for him? Or, and this was what he was leaning towards, had they been ambushed and she was taken by Kanen?

There was a note attached. Merlin asked him to read it. Make the most of this day it will be your last. No mention of Addison, of having her. He hoped that she got away, but she would have returned, she would have found a way back to him if she could have. No, she was either captured, injured or dead. Nothing else could have kept her from him.

Matthew's wife was wailing, clutching his lifeless body to her. Arthur felt like doing the same, though he had no one to cling to. Will had burst through the crowd and blamed Arthur.

"If he hadn't been strutting around treating this like his own personal army, it'd never have happened!" he had shouted. And regardless of Merlin sticking up for him, the guilt Arthur felt welling up in his chest doubled. Firstly, for Addison and secondly for Matthew, for it was true, it was Arthur's fault for assuming this people could handle a battle no matter how small it would be. He tried to argue, to tell them that they were brave and Will was the coward.

But he was right, they were going to be slaughtered if he didn't have a plan. Addison would be whored out and then slaughtered. Fear and desperation welled up into his chest and swirled around inside until it had turned into a right and proper rage. He knew he couldn't ask the village for help, to have them ride with him on his rescue but nothing was going to come between he and Addison. He would get her back, and untouched or not, Kanen was going to die.

Kanen's men dumped Addison to the ground startling a gasp of pain out of her. Her hands had been bound as had her feet, but that didn't stop her from kicking out at one of the men retreating. The kick got him in the ankle and he went crashing down. She would have tried to get up if she thought she could but with her feet and hands tied up she couldn't. Instead she sat there, glaring dagger at them. The bandit she had knocked down jumped to his feet as the men around him laughed. He raised a hand to strike her but Addison was ready.

Her eyes locked with his, flashing that gaudy silver again while she whistled. It was one piercing note, shrill against the boisterous laughter and in that moment he was thrown back from her. And silence descended.

They were staring at her now and none of them were laughing. Horror painted their faces while Addison glared back at them, daring them with her eyes to come forward and try anything else. There's a thick twang that echoes through the silence and Addison has just enough time to throw herself to the side to avoid the bolt that flew past her and imbedded itself into the trunk of the tree she had been leaning against.

She stared up at it with wide eyes and when she turned back Kanen was walking towards her a crossbow in his hands. He smiled down at her with a smug sort of smirk. She was smart enough to not lash out at him, seeing as he was clearly threatening to kill her, maybe not with words but with his actions.

"Feisty little witch, aren't you?" he taunted. Addison stayed quiet. "You'll be fun."

Addison frowned at him. She was too tired to do any real magic, nothing that would help her at this point. She needed a plan, she needed a way to get away from him, a way to trick him into letting down his guard down.

Addison put on her most sheepish of smiles and forced herself to look at him in the most flirtatious of manners. "You know, there are easier ways to get a lady's company for the night," she whispered. "Trussing her up and having your men throw her about is not usually the best way to do that."

He smiled at her in a wolfish sort of way, his dirty fingers going to her cheek before decided to curl a single lock of her hair around one of his fingers. "Oh? And what would you suggest."

"I would suggest dinner," she said softly. "And a chance to entertain you with my voice before we retire to your pallet."

He merely stared at her with that smile still on his face, his fingers continuing to twirl her hair. It took all her power not to shy away from his touch. She noted a knife in his spare hand, hovering close to her stomach. She swallowed her fear and forced herself to look into his eyes. She licked her lips softly watching him as he watched the motion, watching as the hunger dawned on his face.

"If you free me, I will make it worth your while. No need for force," she told him.

"And the prince?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"A travel companion briefly," she replied. "He was going my way and he was easy to look at. Free protection from a handsome man. A girl can't ask for more."

There's something on his face, she can't quite place what it is, but she knew it was good for her. He had lapped up her excuses, let his hunger for her cloud his judgement. With a quick twist of his wrist her hands came free, she stayed still and watched as he carefully cut the bonds from her feet with one quick deft movement. He watched her carefully waiting to see if she'd run but she wasn't that stupid.

He offered her a hand and she kept her face as neutral as possible as she accepted it and he pulled her up. His men cheered and laughed around them and he put his mouth close to her ear, his words felt almost moist that made her shiver.

"You best entertain me tonight, for if I'm not pleased I'll be turning you over to my men to entertain and they're not nearly as honorable as me," he warned her.

She put on her most dazzling of smiles hoping to God he had no idea just how gone she'd be before they even made it to his pallet.

Kanen had allowed the little songstress to prepare them dinner. She had been watched as she picked their spices, choosing mushrooms to pair with their rabbit stew, observing her as she carefully chopped carrots and potatoes they had stolen from the village. She had not been let out sight since she had entered their camp.

Kanen liked to watch her. The way her hair fell over her shoulder, the way he'd catch her looking and she'd blush and look away. She wanted him, he could feel it. He was going to make her forget that silly prince she had fallen in with. He'd show her what a real man was like.

He fantasized about what he'd do to her, how she'd react. She wasn't a proper lady, he could tell by the way she talked. She'd make for a good tumble, worth the one night. If she showed him a good enough time he may keep her for a bit, but only if she truly impressed him.

He had also been smart enough to get her to tell him of the village. How many men, what kind of weapons. As a woman she didn't know much about war and weapons. She said she saw at least 50 men and the prince had brought an armoury worth of weapons with him. Problematic for sure. But he could handle it.

If he was right, turning the songstress against the prince who was so greatly attached to her would be the prince's downfall. He was going to announce the plan after dinner except things went terribly wrong.

It started after the meal was taken. The songstress got up, her body lit by the campfire. The embers drifting around her like living fireflies instead of flying up into the night sky like they usually did. The shadows began to move, the world slowed around them and then the girl opened up her mouth. Dread sunk into his stomach as her words began to drift around them and the flames jumped up to dance with her swaying body.

Take me I'm alive. Never was a girl with a wicked mind. But everything looks better when the sun goes down.

Her face was changing, the shadows elongating, her smile widening her teeth becoming pointed and animalistic. The men were shrinking away from her, Kanen was shrinking away from her. The flame flew higher as she raised her hands, like the devil himself, she commanded them. Creatures were forming in the flames dancing along with her as she continued to sing and sway.

Her hands came to cover her eyes and black marks were painted there. Marks of the devil.

Your eyes. Your eyes. I can see in your eyes. Your eyes.

She threw her hands down and the creatures from the flames lept forward. The men screamed. Flames burst forth from them, Kanen had to throw himself to the ground to avoid one of the demons. He ignored the scream of agony that came from behind and instead stared in horror at the demon he had brought into the camp as she continued to sing.

You're all gonna die! You should have left me alone. And now you're gonna die. I'll make everything you love burn up in the light. Every time you look into my eyes, I'll make you wanna die.

Fire danced through the camp, the tents were ablaze, the dying, agonizing screams of his men echoed around him. The songstress was fading into the shadows. Kanen was furious. He got up onto his feet, the world swaying around him, shadows turned into faces, demons ready to jump out at him. He lurched for his crossbow.

He could just make out a streak of blue weaving through the trees. He tried to aim but he couldn't focus, he could barely stand. But he'd be damned if he wasn't going to get at least one shot off. He tried to aim, tried to level his crossbow and then let the bolt fly out into the dark.