CHAPTER 17: BEAST BOY'S DISCOVERY

"So how's Raven doing?" Cyborg asked.

Beast boy had just come out of the shop and saw Cyborg waiting outside. While Raven was working, the Titans have been picking berries from the forest. Cyborg and Beast boy have been instructed sell them and get some food supplies with what little money they've earned in the village. So along the way, Beast boy decided to go pay Raven a visit while Cyborg does the shopping.

"Raven's … ok …" Beast boy said unsurely. She looked a bit, well, not herself, but it couldn't quite put a finger on what's wrong with her. Maybe it was her eyes, those piercing, violet eyes always filled with curiosity and life, it was dull now, or perhaps it was the lack of light in the shop.

"Good." Cyborg said, "Can we go now? I got some bread, and cheese too."

Beast boy nodded. However, as they walked, Cyborg accidentally knocked into someone.

"Ooof!" he and that someone fell to the ground.

"Hey, man! Watch it!" Cyborg said irreparably as he got up.

Then, his eyes widened as he saw that it wasn't a man. It was a girl. A girl of about seventeen, and she was very, very pretty.

"Pardon me, sir." The girl flushed, and scrambled to stand up, her chocolate brown eyes fixed on the ground, afraid to look at Cyborg.

Cyborg immediately stretched out a gloved hand. The girl looked hesitant, but took it anyway. He pulled her to her feet, "It's alright! It was my fault! I wasn't looking!" he assured her quickly, then picked up the basket she was holding, before it dropped onto the ground.

"Thank you, sir. You have been most kind." the girl murmured, taking the basket. Then, with a short bob of her dark head and an awkward curtsey, she scurried off.

Beast boy chuckled, "Nice going, dude."

Cyborg flashed the changeling an annoyed glare, but stalked off without a word. Beast boy continued to chuckle as he followed after.

Raven returned back to the Titans. They were all munching happily on what seemed to be bread roasted over a merry campfire. All four of them were sitting on wooden logs and huddled together. She felt a slight chill even though it was only six thirty in the evening. Tonight, was definitely going to be cold.

"Friend Raven! It is a joy to see that you have made your return!" Starfire exclaimed in delight. Then, she flew over and held up a piece of bread, slightly burnt at the corners.

"You must be hungry." Starfire smiled.

Raven took the bread, "Thanks."

She nibbled it and found it to be quite like toast back at home. Then, she tasted something else on the bread too - Cheese. Melted cheese on toast, no wonder everyone was smiling. Raven made her way to sit down, and found the only empty spot, saved especially for her - beside Beast boy.

"Hey." he smiled.

Raven smiled back, "Hey." The two looked at each other for a minute. Then, Raven tore her eyes away. All of a sudden, she was feeling strangely embarrassed.

"I … uh … earned ten shillings today." Raven said, distracting herself.

Everyone clapped. "Good work, Raven!" Robin praised. Ten shillings, at this time, was a lot of money. Raven must have really pleased her employer. It won't be long until they can afford a gown or a suit now. Still four days to the masquerade. They had time.

Finishing dinner, everyone went to their tents. Raven noticed that when she was away, the Titans had built one other tent. She smiled, at least two of them won't have to endure Beast boy's stinky feet and snoring.

She was just about to fly up the treetops again but she heard Beast boy call her.

"Raven, I need to show you something!" he grasped her hand. Raven felt a sort of tingle going up from her hand and then up her spine.

She frowned, "Where."

Beast boy grinned, "You'll see." and then, he pulled her away.

Soon, the both of them were running through the trees, flying through the night. Beast boy had turned into a leopard and Raven was flying closely behind him. She suddenly laughed, it's been so long since she's felt this free, this happy. And strangely, it's only with Beast boy.

Then, they slowed. Beast boy changed back into a human again, and Raven landed softly.

"It's around here somewhere …" Beast boy said, looking left and right. Finally, he spotted something and ran towards it.

It was a clump of bushes.

"That's … it?" Raven asked incredulously. They'd ran all this way just for a clump of bushes?

Beast boy laughed and scrambled through the bushes. Raven flew over them and landed on a soft turf of grass. When she looked around, she saw tall trees surrounding them both. But there was a small clearing, not larger than a big room. The grass was filled with flowers and there was many rosebushes around, filling the air with a sweet scent. What was so special about the place was that there was a stone, half the size of a man, and it had a sword in it.

It was a silver, gleaming sword. The handle was shaped in an old, ornate design and had intricate patterns from the handle, running along the center of the blade, probably all the way down to the tip, which was buried in the stone. Age-old dust had gathered on the sword but it still managed to gleam brightly. The orange, pink, evening light fell across the stone and grass in dapples of yellow and purple.

Raven stared, open-mouthed. The Excalibur, the Sword in the Stone.

"Pretty neat, huh?" Beast boy said, seeing her reaction. He circled the stone, "Do you think we can pull this out?"

Raven shook her head, "Only a true King of England can do it."

But Beast boy was already pulling on the sword handle … in vain.

"Don't touch that!" Raven gasped, running forward and pushing him away, "That's a 6th century magical sword created by Merlin the Wizard!"

Beast boy looked at his hands in awe, "Cool!"

Raven rolled her eyes.

"Wait! But what if I am King? What if some evil guy snatched me up from England and took me to America so I will grow up there and never know my true destiny?"

Raven said sarcastically, "Beast boy, that's ridiculous. For starters, you didn't even pull out the sword."

"Maybe the sword doesn't allow lost Kings of England?"

Raven shook her head, but smiling at his desperation. "Beast boy, let's head back. It's getting dark."

"Okay, but if I were lost … will you help me find my way back?" Beast boy suddenly spoke up.

Raven looked at him, "What do you mean? The lost King of England thing?"

Beast boy shook his head, "No … like, if I was … lost, in general, I guess."

Raven didn't understand why he was asking or what he meant but she nodded her head, "Sure."

He smiled, and continued to make his way to the clump of bushes. But, he saw something from the corner of his eye, and began to make his way there. He squinted carefully, then plucked out just one.

"Raven!"

She turned and looked at him expectantly.

Beast boy walked over and held out … a reddish-purplish rose.

Raven took it quietly, "Thank you."

When they made their way back to camp. Raven, after meditating in the treetops, brought out the rose to admire it. It was beautiful, and rare. Purple roses were uncommon, unless you dye it, or genetically modify it, but this … this was grown naturally.

Raven inhaled its sweet scent, thinking of Beast boy immediately. Flying over onto a thick branch, she leaned her head against the tree trunk and smiled.

She was still holding the rose as she slept.

The Enchantress was not happy. She'd seen how quickly the Boy had affected her, and she did not like it. She did not like it at all.

He was more than a pest now, he was a problem. A huge knot in her string of pearls. She must rid of it, at once. And this calls for desperate measures. She did so hate it, for it might affect the girl with its side effects, but really, she did not have much of a choice left.

The Enchantress searched her shelves for a bit of mint and put in a few drops of dragon tears for added coldness. It was almost finished. She flipped open her book and coughed lightly at the dust. Then, she began to read:

"Nocte in frigus

Sed lux clara

Ego quaeritur ad hauriendam potestatem

Ut quis passiones recedere!"

She poured the contents of the black pot into another glass vial. This potion was transparent, but the liquid was greyish in colour. Tomorrow, she will add in the Boy's hair. Then, it will be complete.

But for now, she will leave it on the ledge of her open window. For the moon and its light, to bless it.

And soon, very soon, her revenge will be complete.

Raven went to work the next day at 9 in the morning as usual. This time, Beast boy walked her there. When she arrived there, the old woman said that there was something in Beast boy's hair, reached up and took out whatever she saw in it.

"So, what is it?" Beats boy asked curiously.

"Some dust bunnies, child. Now, if you'll excuse us." the old woman gave him a pointed look. Beast boy shrugged, waved to Raven and went off.

Then, the old woman took out the same tonic drink she gave Raven yesterday. This time, Raven needed no urging, the liquid was sweet and strangely refreshing. She took it to her lips and felt again, that strange dizzy sensation when she had finished drinking. The woman took the empty glass vial from her and told her to work on making suits today.

While Raven was sewing, the old woman disappeared into the back of the room. Here, she took out another glass vial, the one she had placed on the ledge of her window last night. The old woman uncorked it and dropped a lock of Beast boy's hair inside. The liquid bubbled before settling.

"My dear, come, I have something for you." the woman walked back to the front. Raven stopped sewing and looked at her curiously. The old woman was holding up some glass vial filled with a grey, transparent liquid.

"Drink this."

Raven looked unsure. She didn't like the colour …

"You must. It will aid in your focus." The old woman pressed.

Raven gave in and sighed, I guess it wouldn't hurt … And surprisingly, when she had drunk it, the liquid just tasted plain, like water. At least it didn't taste disgusting. The old woman took the empty vial from her, satisfied.

Raven and the old woman chatted in the shop. They got to know each other's name. The old woman was called Roslyn, but everybody just calls her rose. It was alright chatting with her, she was very lively and had a lot to talk about, but the strangest thing was, that whenever the Prince's name came up, Raven felt a sort of leap in her heart.

And the more they kept talking about the Prince, the more Raven loved him.

"Oh! Look! Tis time for you to go." the old woman clapped, holding up the finished suit, "And what lovely sewing dear! Very nimble fingers!"

Raven smiled at the compliment.

"Perfect for magic …" the old woman continued, almost slyly, while putting down the suit on the table.

"Magic?" Raven couldn't believe what she was hearing. Why did she bring up magic?

"You do have powers, do you not?" the old woman suddenly clasped Raven's hand in her's.

Raven was surprised, she knew? How? And most importantly, what was she going to say? In the end, she chose to stay silent. The old woman looked up at her, almost hopefully

"You need not fear, dear. Your secret is safe. In fact …" then, the old woman stretched out a bony hand at the working table. Despite all the books the needles, and everything else on the table, it rose, then came down again.

Raven could not help but gasp. The old woman … she … was a witch?

"Yes, dear. I am a witch. And so are you, yes? We are both alike, creatures of magic, we are." the old woman nodded. Raven felt slightly insulted at being called a witch. She was just simply the daughter of a demon, that's all, and that's where she had her powers from. But the old woman was right about one thing, they had both magic in their blood.

Then Raven remembered how people at this time would burn witches at the stake for witchcraft. She realised how much trouble her friends and her were if anyone just decided to take a stroll in the forest and see Starfire shooting Starbolts, or Raven levitating.

The old woman searched her eyes. Yes, she could see her fears, her concerns. She let her hands go.

"Raven, you fear of being burnt for witchcraft." the old woman stated kindly.

Raven nodded, not surprised the old woman knew what she was thinking now, for she had magic, and her ability to read minds was completely understandable.

"Kings and Queens have signed our death for centuries, but no more, Raven. We cannot allow ourselves to suffer at their hands. We, witches, are a special kind, and must be treated with respect. For we have magic, unlike other commoners." the old woman said, almost angrily.

Raven didn't know how to reply. She just shook her head, not because she wasn't agreeing, but because she couldn't believe any of this. And what did the old woman just say about suffering at their hands? Something about how this would be discontinued? But she didn't see how she could go about changing people's belief of witches. It was going to be highly impossible.

Then, she noticed that the old woman had opened the door for her already, "Rest well, dear. Come morrow, we shall continue on dresses."

Nodding, Raven exited the shop, feeling quite lightheaded and just the slightest bit … unnerved.

A/N: I just realised, this fanfiction is going to be way longer than my planned, 20 chapters. But don't worry, I finish it and I'm trying to update as soon as possible. I'm going to take longer now because the Mid-Years are here and there are just so many exams! Big thanks to all who are patient.

P.S: Wish me luck for my examinations! :)