10. Fire Breather
Their departure for Camelot the following day went much more smoothly. This time, Arthur was only accompanied by Gwaine and Elyan, along with Merlin and Aithusa. He had appointed Leon and Percival to remain at the Northern Fortress to work with Ranulf in leading the deployment of knights and soldiers during the coming weeks.
After so much bustle, Arthur was looking forward to the easy journey back.
His arrival, on the other hand, would be an entirely different matter. It was likely he wouldn't remain in Camelot for long before he'd have to depart once more and officially convene with King Bayard.
"What's with the sour face, princess?" Gwaine asked as they rode steadily across the plains. "I, for one, am relieved to finally have some peace and quiet."
"Charming," Arthur scoffed. "I believe that it's you who's usually disrupting the peace, Sir Gwaine."
"I am a man of many talents," he replied blithely.
"Gua!" Aithusa cheered from where she rode in front of Gwaine.
"Aha!" Gwaine shouted. "You hear that? She said my name!"
Arthur exchanged a look with Merlin. Simultaneously, they said, "Sir Gua."
"Oh, very funny," Gwaine grumbled.
Laughing, Elyan agreed, "Yes, very much so."
"Gua!" Aithusa cheered again, laughing joyously. Gwaine was unable to remain the slightest bit offended.
As their laughter died down, Elyan spoke up, wondering, "Merlin, how do you plan on keeping Aithusa home this time?"
"That's the question, isn't it?" Merlin heaved an exasperated sigh. "I'm not sure yet." His voice darkened as he said, "She's a slippery one, but I want her nowhere near Amata."
Arthur grimaced. "Perhaps…it's best if you stayed home."
"No."
Unfortunately, Arthur expected nothing less.
"I'm going to have to agree with the princess on this one, mate," Gwaine cut in with an apologetic frown. "Going back to that place…it doesn't sound like one of your brighter ideas."
Merlin shook his head sharply. "I will go and I will see this through. You let me worry about Aithusa."
Gwaine turned to Arthur, but Arthur shook his head, grimace still in place. He was more familiar with Merlin's stubbornness than most. If they left him behind it wouldn't be long before he followed. And Arthur would rather keep him under his protection than allow him to face any of the very real threats they would encounter in Sarrum's country.
As they crossed into the Forest of Powys, Elyan cut through the strained silence, "How about we stop for lunch? I'm famished."
"Brilliant idea," Gwaine said. "Isn't that right, little dragon?"
"Gua!"
Aithusa's cheer effectively diffused the tension.
It was as they dismounted that Aithusa scampered off into the forest.
"Aithusa!"
"It's fine. I'll grab her," Arthur assured Merlin, thrusting the reins into his hands. He marched off without another word, more confident this time. If his first chase after Aithusa had taught him anything, it was that she wouldn't stray far from Merlin.
He easily followed her path through the forest, her little footprints having left impressions upon the soft soil.
Eventually, Arthur spotted her fluttering white curls beyond a patch of shrubbery. "There you are." Louder, he called, "Aithusa!"
"Pat!"
Arthur froze mid-step.
Had…had she just called him 'prat?'
Merlin, I'm going to kill you.
"Pat!" Aithusa called again, running back in his direction.
Unfortunately, Arthur was forced to set aside his offense. "Aithusa, what have you got there?" He crouched down beside her.
Triumphantly, she held up to him a very dead rabbit.
Feral child.
"Ah. I see you got us lunch," Arthur said, reluctantly accepting her offering. It was still warm. "Thank you kindly."
"Pat!" Aithusa clapped her dirty hands.
"It's Arthur," he gently corrected.
"No!"
Arthur sighed. "Alright, let's head back before your father gets into a right tizzy."
Aithusa giggled so hard, she started coughing.
Arthur awkwardly patted her back, unsure of how else to help her. "Aithusa?"
And then, she coughed so hard, a ball of fire fell out of her mouth and set the shrub alight.
"What the hell?!"
The dead rabbit was tossed aside in favor of scooping Aithusa into his arms and away from the fire now burning at his feet.
Arthur stared between a giggling Aithusa and the fire, horrified and unable to comprehend what he'd just seen.
Little dragon, indeed.
Afterwards, Arthur refused to speak a word about any of it, ignoring any concerns directed his way. Instead, he quickened their leisure pace to Camelot, allowing them to arrive much earlier than anticipated.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Arthur dismounted and hurried off.
"What's with him?"
Servants and nobles alike scurried to get out of his way, but Arthur hardly noticed. Anxiety twisted through his chest, mind awashed with every fear that Aithusa's magic had seamlessly unearthed. It was almost too much to bear.
He burst into Gaius' chambers, the door shutting behind him with a bang.
Gaius hurried to stand from where he sat his work bench. "Sire! Is something the matter?!"
Arthur stared at him. "Gaius…can children be born with magic?"
Because that was the only possible conclusion he could reach. It was the reason why he never got to know Aithusa. It was why Merlin had sent her away to be taken care of by a man that he clearly hated. It was why Morgana had taken her for herself. It was why King Sarrrum had tortured her.
Aithusa had been born with magic in a country where magic was outlawed. And she had suffered the consequences for it.
"Gaius, please."
Gaius had never looked his age as much as he did then. "Yes, sire. Children can be born with magic."
Arthur stumbled forward and collapsed into a nearby chair. "I see."
Gaius sat across from him and cautiously asked, "May I ask what brought about this inquiry?"
"I…" Without a doubt, Arthur knew that he couldn't reveal what he knew of Aithusa. Not when it was he who enforced the law. "I've been thinking about the Druid children again," he said instead, voice hoarse.
"Ah." Gaius nodded in understanding. "I imagine it is Aithusa who has inspired this line of thought."
"She's so small, Gaius." Arthur swallowed thickly. "They were so small."
"Yes, I imagine so."
"Who was it?" Arthur was afraid to know, but the unknown would haunt him all the more. "Who do you know that was born with magic?"
The silence stretched between them.
"I apologize," Arthur uncharacteristically blurted out. "I assure you, you will not be punished for anything you reveal. But…I need to know. I need to know who was innocent in all the bloodshed my father brought about."
"There were many," Gaius whispered. "So many. Most, you never knew."
"But I knew some?"
Gaius nodded gravely. "Yes, sire. It was…Morgana."
Pain lanced through his chest, splintering and breaking something fragile between his heart and lungs.
"You protected her."
"Perhaps, I should not have."
"No," Arthur forced out, past the hot pressure building in his throat. "For all the suffering that she caused, she was only a child then. You did good, Gaius."
Tears dripped down the aged skin of his cheeks. "Thank you, sire."
Arthur stood sharply and left without another word.
A/N: The bestie made me write :(
I hope you enjoyed the update! :)