Intrusion


Arthur had come prepared. A dozen guards and eight knights. His father had argued that they should bring down the whole force upon the slightly smaller than average house he now stood in front of, but he had eventually conceded to Arthur's point of stealth. This was the compromise they came to, in the end.

With some sign-language, Arthur directed the guards to stand on all available sides of the house, while he also divided his knights in groups of four, one for the back door, one for the front. He himself was now approaching the door.

"In name of the king, open the door!" He shouted, as regal as he could. He heard some stumbling, some cursing and some footfalls before the door slowly opened…

…before being thrown open in its entirety with a surprising move, to reveal a blackhaired man that was decidedly not Emrys standing behind it.

Arthur stared, and blinked a few times.

"You're not the sorcerer." Arthur pointed dumbstruck at the man.

"Noooo, princess. Of course I'm not. Does he have hair as good as mine? I think not." The man grinned roguishly. He started to grin even wider when he saw Arthur's face contort in disgust a bit.

"Where is the sorcerer? He has committed high treason, and it's my duty to retrieve him." Arthur said.

"Oho! Big words! You sure you know what they mean?" The man joked at him, only for Arthur to roll his eyes in annoyance. He had played nice long enough.

In a flash, he brought his sword up to the man's throat, in a move he had practiced to perfection in his many years of training. This time, however, it was deflected by another blade, which had come out of nowhere, and was in the stranger's hand.

"I don't take kindly to people out to behead me on the doorstep of my current home. State your business or sod off." A dangerous glint had come to the man's eye, and Arthur found himself take a battle stance, ready for the possible impending scuffle.

"Where did that sword come from?" Arthur demanded, instead. He was prince here, not the stranger. "Are you a sorcerer too?"

The man's stance slacked suddenly, as he took on a thoughtful pose. "Nope. I don't think I am. How are the apples, by the way?"

"Apples, wha—" But Arthur was interrupted by a crunch next to him. He turned his head at breakneck speed, only to find the sorcerer standing next to him.

"Deyre goof!" The sorcerer said, with full mouth, before gulping his bite down. "This year was a good one, Gwaine. I've brought you some, too."

Several of Arthur's guards ran for their lives.

"Not a brave lot, are they?" Gwaine remarked.

"I hope they're not the best in all of Camelot. For your sake, 'f course." The Sorcerer threatened him, with a smile and a goofy stance. Arthur narrowed his eyes. It was a trick, he knew.

"Sorcerer!" Arthur spoke. The sorcerer's stance straightened, and he mocked Arthur with a mock-salute.

Next to him, the other man (Gwaine, Arthur recalled) was obviously trying to be annoying with another mock-salute.

"Yes!"

"In the name of the King, I arrest you for high-treason by ways of practicing magic!" The sorcerer's salute fell back to his sides, his eyes wide (in fear, Arthur knew. Good), as were Gwaine's.

It was silent, but Arthur was tense. Now, the sorcerer would attack him, and try to kill him, as was its instinct. He readied his sword, and…

"That's it?" …dropped the sword in shock. Quickly, he picked it back up. The sorcerer was a crafty one, one with cunning, to make him lose his focus like that.

"Yes. Now come with me quietly and…" Drat. He couldn't exactly say 'and your life may yet be spared', could he? "…you may yet have a painless death."

Gwaine sniggered: "Sure!"

Arthur glared at him.

"Do not worry, my Prince…" The Sorcerer bowed with a flourish. Arthur's eye twitched. The sorcerer stood straight, and walked straight to Arthur, making the remaining soldiers brandish their swords.

In passing, The Sorcerer gave him a clap on the back. "…for I do not practice magic!"

Gwaine burst out in laughter, and the Sorcerer closed the door of the house behind him.

Laughter could be heard for several minutes afterwards, and after that, much crunching was heard, as if the sorcerer was using apples in his dark rituals to kill perfectly fine cats.

Even when he was undergoing purifying remedies from Gaius to counteract the most evil magicks the sorcerer must have enacted upon him with that clap on the back, only one thought went through Arthur's head: "What?"


I hope you all enjoyed. Bye!

No.311