A/N: Day two's prompt was once upon a time.

Title: Magical Encounter

Warnings: Mentions of war and violence

Summary: Alfred meets someone on the battlefield who changes his life.

Damn it, why did I even decide to enter the army? Why didn't I just try and make it on my own? I could have tried to be an apprentice, or maybe I could have even mastered my own trade, and really if all else failed I could have been the village idiot. No. Of course not, though. I chose to join the Royal Army. I might like to think that I had other opportunities, but in reality I didn't. With no family and no income, the army really was my only option. Shelter, food, protection, and the status of a Royal soldier? It was great... until war was declared.

I was one of the lucky ones. Some of the men said I had a talent with a bow and arrow and I guess they were right. I'd come out of every battle nearly unscathed; that is, until one day.

We'd been marched eastward, about 3,000 of us as a decoy. We were outnumbered by a good thousand, but our generals had a strategy. If we went in and sacrificed ourselves as bait, a battalion of about 8,000 would attack the enemy from the rear. They would be caught off guard, and this battle may even end the war. But of course, the price for victory was high, and it was paid in human blood. Including mine.

I fell not ten minutes into the battle. As I'd readied my bow and arrow, an enemy soldier had come from behind and dealt me a stab right in between the ribs. I hit the ground immediately, clutching my side as my fingers became encrusted in scarlet blood. I wasn't trying to stop the bleeding, if only the pain. That was the end, I was sure of it, and as such I let out a screech of agony. Someone should know I died in a heap of pain. I waited to see the light, but in fact, I never did.

In a moment there was someone beside me, and I scrunched my eyes tighter figuring the soldier had come back to finish me off. When I felt a hand touch my body, I jerked away in a vain attempt to save the time I had left.

"Easy, lad. I'm with you. Please just stay still for a moment."

At that I peaked an eye open to question who was speaking to me. Words were never exchanged on the battlefield, as that was simply taboo.

At my side kneeled a man, with his hands pressed to my chest. He was wearing a tunic of red and silver, the colors of our kingdom, so I knew he was trustworthy, yet I never remembered encountering him anywhere.

"Go fight..." I choked out. "Take my weapon."

It was then that he turned towards me and I got a better look at him. He was about my age, with golden hair and bright green eyes, though those were not the features that had my eyes widening in surprise. I did a double take, after blinking away what I thought to be hallucinations, and realized that what was in front of me was real. The man before me had pointed ears, a sign of magic and of the fey. I stared at him in shock, after all, ever since I was a young boy I'd been told that the fey were just a thing of legend.

"You... you're," I tried but only managed to get myself into a coughing fit.

"Yes," the boy answered without me even finishing my statement. "I'm of the fey. Now hold still."

I did as he told me and watched as his hands lit up in a soft glow. I felt a strange tingling in my side and closed my eyes as he transferred his magic into my body. Within a moment, the pain subsided and I opened my eyes again to find my side patched up; all the blood had disappeared. I stared at him in amazement.

"I had no idea you actually existed..." I mumbled, now that I had regained the ability to speak.

"No one does. They locked our kind away years ago, and only release us when it is a benefit to them." He motioned to where my stab wound had vanished. "I was born into captivity, and they've let me out only as a healer."

I furrowed my brows and without realizing it, I reached out to touch him. He looked back at me curiously and didn't say a word as I ran my fingertips over the tips of his ears. When I realized what I was doing, I pulled away and glanced at him sadly.

"I'm sorry," I said, not sure if I was apologizing for my actions or the acts of the kingdom.

He shook his head slightly and moved to stand up.

"Wait!" I called and he stopped in his tracks. I stood up and matched his emerald gaze. "Thank you..."

"Arthur."

I cocked my head. For some reason I'd been expecting a much stranger name.

"Right, well, thank you, Arthur."

He gave me a swift nod and ran back into the chaos, presumably to look for more injured. I picked up my bow and arrows, and followed suit.

I never caught sight of him again, and when the war ended not long after, I started to lose hope. I searched around desperately, but when I asked people of the fey healer who was a part of the company, they looked at me as if I were delusional. I would never meet him again, though I continued searching. If I had learned anything from my encounter with the fey, it was that life is precious, and so I dedicated my existence to studying texts of the fey, and researching magic. To this day I continue to investigate, and search for where the fey are kept locked away. I keep looking, because somewhere inside I know it is my duty to Arthur. He saved my life, and it is only fair I do the same for him. But for now I continue searching... and whenever I am in doubt, I just remember to believe in the magic.