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"Layla?"

"Yes Arthur?"

"What are the other differences?"

The hooded witch blinked realizing he was talking about his earlier question regarding the differences between witches and sorceresses. She took a while to gather her thoughts carefully before speaking.

"Second difference, witches as you already saw would have a much brighter golden eye colour when they do magic compared to sorceresses. Last difference, the eyes of the witches can glow gold longer than the usual fraction of a second the eyes of sorceresses would have as we have a natural magical affinity thus our magical capacity is larger and stronger compared to sorceresses."

Arthur blinked after she finished, "That's all?"

"Yes...does that upset you-?"

"No no! I just thought there would be more differences…"

Layla shook her head, "I don't think you'll fancy hearing the obvious psychological differences witches would have compared to sorceresses since the study of human behavior is not an easy concept to grasp. Besides, the differences I told you I think would be of better use to you as they can be noticed if you pay enough attention."

Arthur frowned, she did have a point but he was curious and he liked talking to her so giving her a chance to speak more would make his while.

"Mama!"

The two adults turned to see a small hooded boy running toward them but Myriddin stopped short seeing Arthur. Layla sensed her son's distress and spoke reassuringly.

"He won't bring any harm to either of us my dear. Come here sweetie."

The boy was cautious but went to his mother. Being shy, he hid behind his mother's leg and tilted his head, peeking at Arthur cutely.

"I'm Arthur Pendragon" the blonde man says as he crouches to meet the boy's height level.

"Myriddin Emrys."

Layla stiffened immediately, she did not expect her son to give his full name but when she looked over at Arthur it seemed that the name Emrys did not stir him in any way making her feel relieved.

"Does your name have a meaning? I never heard it before."

"I'm named after my Papa. He has many names. One of Papa's names is Myrddin but Mama named me Myriddin."

They boy's mother felt her eyebrow twitch, not expecting her son to mention that either.

"Aren't they the same?" frowned Arthur.

The boy shook his head, "Not really, the pronunciation is different. MYRddin. MYRIddin. See?"

Layla could feel nervous perspiration beading her forehead.

Damn it...

"Alright...so how old are you Myriddin?"

"I'm two. I was born on August 28th."

"Ahhh I see and where is your Papa?"

Layla was quick to cover her son's mouth, "Excuse me milord but my son and I need to go now so we shall take our leave."

Arthur was surprised and could only watch as Layla dragged her son away by the hand, carrying her basket with the other hand but Myriddin managed to shout goodbye before his abrupt leave and all the blonde king could do was wave in return awkwardly.

She didn't have to rush like that...

Annabeth Thomas watched as Arthur walked down the hill, towards the direction of Merlin's house.

As Ealdor's go-to-girl for information and gossip, she was especially curious as to why so many knights were accompanying Merlin. The woman with them was rather pretty and apparently a patient that Merlin had brought to his mother for consultation according to Merlin that is when she asked.

However, the young milkmaid knew something was very suspicious.

Firstly, there were 5 knights in the group; far too many to accompany a woman on her journey even if she was a noble although the blonde man she was watching could the woman's lover or husband. She had peeked into the house a few times and saw the couple so she knew her guess was correct. Plus the couple looked awfully familiar to Anna but for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why.

Secondly, Layla and her son had left the home just in time for the Camelot group to arrive and take refuge. Merlin had told her that she took their son to visit some relatives so that the Camelot people could have more room to occupy. It was a plausible excuse but Anna knew better. Merlin was a proud family man, it just felt odd to her that he didn't convince his wife and son to stay to welcome the Camelot group with him and his mother into their home.

Thirdly, the blonde man she was watching now usually wore a hooded cloak when he left the house but for some reason today, he didn't. Regardless, it perked Anna's interest as to why he had to hide his face in the first place. She did find him very familiar though so maybe he had visited Ealdor sometime before but it could only have been a long time ago because otherwise, she would remember who he was especially so since he is very handsome...

Lastly, she knew Mordred had noticed her spying and sent her all sorts of warnings to ward her away like glares and even confronting her directly to tell her to leave the other knights be.

Mordred...

She met him a while back. He was a friend of Merlin and had stayed with him for a little while. He didn't seem very taken with her as most other men had much to her surprise. Anna knew she was very pretty for a milkmaid and often made use of her looks and charm to lure the truth out of people but Mordred was unimpressed and would ignore her. At least Merlin was nicer although she suspected it was just because she grew up with Merlin who was three years her senior. Merlin always seemed amused by her antics and never failed to stop and talk to her or let her ramble about the latest gossip.

Anna smiled, she used to have a crush on Merlin but after he left for Camelot not long after his 16th birthday, the feelings simmered because she barely saw him, much less spoke to him but after getting married to Layla, she could at least see him every month which was nice. Merlin was a good man and a good friend.

Suddenly, she heard a loud cuss so she looked up to see the blonde man holding onto his foot and biting his lip hard. Curious, she hurried over to him.

"Are you alright sir?"

Arthur looked up to see a young girl, close to her twenties perhaps looking at him in concern. She had curly auburn hair and hazel eyes. She was dressed in a light blue up-to-the-elbow sleeved chemise and a simple, sleeveless dark shade of navy blue peasant gown over it but what made the whole dress more stylish than most peasants was the intricate side lacing at the side of the gown.

She's rather pretty for a peasant…

"Excuse me?"

The blonde king blinked and realized the girl was speaking to him again.

"I am fine"

Arthur stood up properly, ignoring the pain in his foot from his trip on the rock earlier.

My mind was occupied by Layla and her son…

Why did they leave so suddenly?

"Are you alright sir? You seem dazed…"

"Like I said, I am fine. What is your name?" asks Arthur, hoping to distract her from asking about his foot.

"Beth, I am Hunith's neighbour."

The blonde frowned, trying to remember, "I don't remember seeing you here before."

Annabeth was now confused, "But, I've lived here all my life sir...what is your name?"

"Oh I'm Arthur. What are you-?"

Arthur stopped talking in mid-sentence when he saw the peasant girl's face. She seemed to remember something.

Arthur...Camelot...blonde...

"Is everything alright?"

"You're Arthur Pendragon aren't you?" asked the girl softly, looking at him in the eyes.

Arthur responded with a panicked look, suddenly realizing that he had not worn his hood today when he left the house that morning and Merlin and Hunith was going to kill him for giving himself away.

Shoot!

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