Hi guys! so My Oc will cast spells in a different language i decided that she'll say her spells in Latin, since i think it would suit her. in this chapter she's home to use the medicine to cure her village.
Chapter 4
"We're almost there." Cecilia said her voice full of excitement, enduring a four day trip back to her village, ecstatic that the King let Gauis go with her, only so that the illness doesn't spread towards Camelot.
Arthur and two other knights went with Gauis and Cecilia, Merlin tagged along as well since he started working as Arthur's manservant. Before Arthur and Merlin left with Cecilia and Gauis Poor Merlin got stuck doing more work that he ever had to do polishing the prince's armor and a variety of boots , sharpening his sword, tending the horses, even being Arthur's practice dummy. Cecilia winced when Arthur came at him with the sword, he finally had a break only for him to be traveling with the group.
On their third day on the trip they made camp for the night, they saw that Cecilia was adding things in a pot, she told them that she found some wild greens such as stinging nettle, wild garlic and mustard greens, saying she was going to use it to make a hearty soup for them, adding in the greens and the last of the salted pork she had in the pot with a handful of barley, letting it cook near the open flame.
From what Merlin could tell the way that Cecilia cooked there was sudden calmness on how she makes it, even shushing the Knights up when they interrupt her when She's cooking, from her little leather pouch he saw tiny glass vials with something inside he asked her what those are.
"These are some spices, it was a gift from my friend her mother and father have a nice supply of salt and other spices. She was kind enough to give me some." Cecilia smiled looking at the small pouch of spices. She added in a few pinches of pepper and mace.
When she served their meal, they sat quietly enjoying the meal, Merlin thought that This was heaven, when he first came in the castle the head kitchen maid's cooking wasn't like Cecilia's food it's not that she's a horrible cook it's just that it's always missing something, Cecilia asked Merlin if he wanted seconds he said yes and he was going to eat every single bit of it.
When Cecilia went to fetch some water, Merlin overheard the Knights talk saying a woman who cooks like this is worth her weight in gold and jewels. They grew up wealthy with servants to cater to their every whim, but they said that none of it compared to when their mother's cooked for them on special occasions.
Leon had grabbed Arthur by the shoulders playfully shaking him while saying. "If you find a woman who cooks and her food soothes your soul marry her. Now, not in a while, right now. That's what my father always told me, maybe I should see if Cecilia is available. "
"As if any girl would want to marry you, She won't last a day with your snoring." Arthur joked letting out a light laugh.
After a full meal they fell asleep except for one of the Knights to be a lookout for anything suspicious.
Cecilia shivered and tucked herself into Merlin's side, hiding her face in his neck. Merlin's eyes snapped open seeing her shiver in the cold night even near the open fire it was still cold, Merlin felt fine but Cecilia being slightly smaller than him the cold was affecting her more.
He pulled his jacket off and wrapped it around her, she slowly stopped shivering. A pleasant smile formed across her lips enjoying a sudden burst of warmth. Ever since Merlin was small his mother had taught him to be kind to women, helping them in anything they need, to provide for them. He had helped other girls in the past but never gave them a last thought or seen them return his kindness, but with Cecilia it was different. There was something about her that made him want to help her more, she would see that and help him in return. Merlin went back to sleep until Morning.
"Where is your jacket?" She asked Her hand reached up feeling the piece of clothing.
"On you, you were shivering like a leaf last night. " Merlin whispered.
"Thank you." Cecilia whispered softly. "That's sweet of you."
After a quick meal and packing up they continued on their journey. They headed north crossing a bridge, passed a small clear river until finally reaching the village.
Upon entering the village Cecilia saw a few people doing their usual everyday routine some tend the animals, others fetching water , a few villagers stopped seeing the Knights of Camelot. With Cecilia's help she told the villagers that a physician is here to help them. Gauis immediately went to heal the children that were ill, going from house to house.
Cecilia swiftly ran home with the medicine on hand for her father, she smiled she has the medicine and her father will be well again!
She stopped in front of the door to her house, she bit her bottom lip knowing that she'll get an earful from her father but his health is more important.
Upon opening the door She saw her friend Leona there, before Cecilia left the village she had asked Leona to care for her father until she came back.
Both girls hugged tightly seeing each other again, Leona wore a pretty dark blue dress with small light blue ribbons around her waist.
"Leona, how are you? Is father here? How is he?" Cecilia asked she moved her head seeing a mess on the floor and piles of books across the table.
"Ceci..I'm fine but..your father...he.." Leona trailed off.
"What? What happened? Is he alright? " Cecilia asked panic rose as she ran to her father's bedroom to see it empty.
"Father?! Where are you?!" Cecilia called out.
"Ceci! He's not here! " Leona spoke up, Cecilia turned to her friend.
"Where is he?!" Cecilia asked
"I don't know...after you left he started feeling a little better, when he started to have energy to get out of bed he thought that you went to the forest instead of Camelot...he thought...that you left to go get a cure there." Leona said
"Why would he think I left into the woods?" Cecilia asked she shook her head, that wasn't normal.
"Well...remember the story of that witch that lives deep in the woods just north of our village?" Leona asked
"Yes, The witch that killed her beloved over a flower that said to cure any illness and regain her youth..but that story is just a child's tale to scare children away from entering the woods." Cecilia said
"The Story is real Ceci...he…" Leona stopped herself she glanced at the door and windows. She walked to check if anyone was near, after a few minutes Leona walked to a cupboard opening a drawer taking out a ruby red book "You're father kept reading this."
Cecilia took the book seeing intricate designs on the front. She opened it flipping a few pages and stopped at one page recognized the handwriting.
"Mother wrote this...but why was father reading this?" Cecilia muttered. She stopped at one page with a picture of a golden flower with white edges.
Rose of Sharonce it blooms on a cloudless night once every hundred years, once bloomed it secrets a golden nectar then wither away turning into seeds to be planted again repeating the cycle. After harvesting its golden nectar it can be used to cure any illness as well as healing someone from the brink of death. It's nectar can also be used to make a powerful potion to grant the drinker its youth back.
'It's in mothers handwriting...so..he thought I went to get the flower?' Cecilia bit her bottom lip, closing the book.
"He left two days ago, I thought if I kept coming here he would return." Leona explained "I told my father about this he said that going deeper in the forest is a maze he drew in the map the multiple paths he might be in and he send some of his workers there to find him...none of them returned."
"I'm going to find him." Cecilia said she searched around the room getting some supplies together. "If no one found him then I will."
"You're not going alone." Leona said "I'll go with you."
"Leona, no if there's a witch in the woods it'll be dangerous for you." Cecilia replied her eyes full of worry She knows that Leona is very skillful wielding the sword but if it is a witch involve in this then she'll be defeated with magic. "My mother always told me Magic must defeat magic."
" I don't care you're not going alone, have you forgotten the promise?" Leona said taking out her sword. "I promised you when we were small that I would repay you, that you saved my life with your magic."
"And you did by not telling anyone about my magic."Cecilia said softly.
"No, that was a promise I did as your friend Ceci, another promise I made as a future Knight is to repay my debt to you." Leona said
There was no way of convincing Leona so Cecilia let her go with her along with her trusty hunting wolfdog Sam. Cecilia told her that they'll go to the forest at night when everyone is asleep. So Cecilia grabbed her bag to stay with Leona to make a plan on which area in the forest to find her father.
Barrick, Leona's father welcomed the Knights and the others into his home so that they can rest and relax for the next few days, Once Gauis gives them the news that everyone is cured they'll go back to Camelot.
Barrick recognized Arthur, he had met him once when Arthur was a small boy. He told him that his father and him were good friends years before Arthur was born, telling Arthur stories in his youth where he was in camelot as a sparring partner for Uther.
"Arthur, this is my daughter Leona." Barric introducing his daughter to the prince.
Arthur stood there seeing Leona, she wore a new change of clothes of a dark green dress, her hair in a french braid, she smiled softly and lightly bowed, Arthur took her hand placing a soft kiss.
"My prince." Leona said "How was your journey?"
"Long, tiring but..it's worth it." He smoothly said looking at Leona from head to toe.
"I hope that you'll find the living quarters to your liking." Leona said softly "Please relax, soon dinner will be ready."
Meanwhile with Cecilia
Cecilia waited in one of the guests room that Leona let her stay in until they head off to the forest, she held the map of the land in her hand seeing the different paths in the forest.
"This is the map...now with this I should find my father." Cecilia muttered softly she placed the map on the small wooden table, lighting a small white candle. She opened her bag to take out a pendulum quartz crystal connected to a woven white string she held the string letting the jewel hover over the map.
'Let this work...I need to find my father.' Cecilia thought taking a deep breath clearing her mind before casting the spell.
"Micantis Regia spirituum peto te caritas, praebueris focus tuus et claritatis. Duc ad patrem meum, et non invenietis: Redde quod et pacem mentis" Cecilia chanted softly while moving the crystal over the map. 'Guiding spirits I ask your charity,lend me your focus and me to my father I cannot find,Restore that and my peace of mind.'
Merlin's P.o.v.
After the meal I couldn't find Cecilia, when we got here I helped Gauis with so many patients that I lost track of her. She told me of all the things i should try before I go back to Camelot, Cecilia told me about a waterfall west from the forest that at the right time in the day you would see a rainbow. I also met her friend Leona she seemed like a nice girl , she was too busy talking with Arthur and the other Knights.
I explored the home for a bit, I know that Cecilia is here somewhere I saw her earlier here helping in the kitchen after that I haven't seen her maybe i'll find her around here. On my way to one of the rooms I heard a few of the maids saying she can hardly wait to have more fruit jam that Cecilia makes for them, apparently she makes a few big jars of jam for them to last a few weeks in the household. I was lucky enough to have some before we left, Cecilia even told me that she'll give me a few to take back, I still wondered on how she knew about that witch in disguise a week ago I haven't had the chance to ask her about it. I wandered at the end of the hallway to the last room, the door was barely open. I glanced at it seeing someone inside.
Third person's P.o.v.
Cecilia let the crystal over to the map seeing it move rapidly at one of the forests path then she heard the door creak, in a panic she dropped the crystal and turned hoping that the person didn't see her use magic. The person was Merlin he gave her a friendly smile.
"Oh...you scared me…" She said
"S..sorry, I was looking for you." Merlin said his eyes shifted to the table behind her seeing a white candle and a map.
"So what's wrong? " Cecilia asked
"What are you doing?" He asked
"I'm just cleaning up a bit." she answered
"What's that on the table there?" He asked taking a step closer to her , panic creeped up she glanced at the nearby potted plant near the door, she tilted her head using her magic to knock the potted plant over.
A crackling sound was heard Merlin turned around seeing the pot destroyed on the floor.
"Oh no!" She feint running to clean up the mess.
"Let me help you with that." Merlin offered kneeling down.
"Thank you." Cecilia spoke she glanced at the map on the table, she tilted her head the map magically folded itself up in half.
"Cecilia I mean...Ceci. Are you feeling alright?" Merlin asked while picking up the last of the cracked clay pot.
"I am, I'm just excited to see if the children are better." Cecilia truthfully said when she got back she was worried about the children, some children at that age have little chance at surviving illnesses. 'And worried about my father….is he alright? Did he eat? I'll need to pack some food for him.'
Merlin glanced at Cecilia and felt that something is bothering her but didn't want to push her about so he left it alone, when he finished helping her clean he looked at the table seeing the map now folded up he raised an eyebrow. 'Strange...I could've sworn that map was open.' He thought glancing at Cecilia. 'Is...Cecilia a..witch? No, she would've told me..no but..' Merlin looked at Cecilia who was sweeping the dirt from the floor.
Nightfall quickly came Cecilia and Leona sneaked out of Leona's room Cecilia had with her side bag wearing a dark green hood while Leona wore a dark red hood and her sword tucked away on her side attached to her belt. On their way to the door they hid seeing two guards there standing guard at the door. Cecilia waved her hand casting a non verbal sleeping spell on them so they could leave quietly.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Cecilia asked her one more time, Leona petted her wolfdog Sam, Sam whimpered lightly
"Ceci, I'm going with you." Leona replied in a low whisper. "I think someone is following us."
"Huh? What do you-" before Cecilia could finish her sentence Leona grabbed Cecilia's hand and ran.
"Sam smelled him following us when we left my room." Leona explained The two girls and their furry companion ran, Leona opened one of the doors in a room to hide.
'Who's following us? Who?' Cecilia thought she held her breath hearing the light footsteps.
That's the end of this chapter! Please leave a review and tell me what you guys think any comments or suggestions are welcomed!