Fate of Camelot 30
In the Halls of Nero... a few days ago… During the events of the previous chapters...
A lone maid walked through the hallways carrying nothing but a piece of cloth that was folded in her hands. Her smile was light, and her pace graceful. Just like what all the maids in this place had been taught to do. Her name was Chara, but certain circles of Saxon society only know her as 'the Rat'. A moniker born from her skills as a spy. She was not the finest in her department, thank Andrus for that distinction, but she would be damned if she wasn't in the higher ranks of the totem pole.
Her name was a nod to her mother, who was of Greek descent living in Gaul back then. Her father, a Saxon raider, was the one who captured her mother and made a wife out of her. After her father died due to the Aurelian War 13 years ago, Chara lived a life of mischief and misery. Stealing food from unsuspecting merchants, coins from tavern drawers, and even favours out of less than stellar men were what defined her youth and early adulthood. That was until she stole from the wrong man: Corvus. Had it not been for Andrus stopping the axe that was about to chop her into dice, Chara would've been a goner.
"Chara! Great work today, you've always made things look easy but this is a whole new level." Heard Chara from a fellow brunette maid who showed up at her side. A maid who looked a few years older than her but was still as youthful as the spring. Her pale skin shimmering under the winter sunlight.
"I didn't do much, Vespa." Chara simply smiled. She didn't want to talk about her conversations with the stuffy nobles who did not know when to stop their hands. Nor does she want to talk about what she did to them after the fact.
"Nonsense! Never have I seen nobles so pleased with maids. They're always so grumpy and filled with logs up their rear. But not today. And I attribute all that to you." Vespa determinedly said. Her caramel eyes are as sharp as ever.
"Nothing can ever go past your eyes, Vespa." Chara sighed. But her eyes had a playful gleam.
"Well, as your mentor. I would take that as a compliment." Vespa happily said. The two maids then shared a bout of laughter at that.
Chara had been living in the palace for the past few weeks. Ever since Hansa had given her the call to go to Londinium as a spy, to be precise. Her time here had been a mixed bag per say. She got a suitable place to call home, her salary was so much higher than her original living as a thief. And the connections she had made were all the more worth it. Vespa would go down as one of the people she would call friends (and that list wouldn't be getting any longer any time soon). The hard work of a handmaid was intense sometimes, sure. And the patience needed to navigate around the eccentric, fickle, loud, annoying, insufferable Satan spawn of a woman named Romula Augtusta was almost enough to break the camel's back. However, she managed.
She's been dreaming of slitting Nero's neck for the past two weeks as a means to cope with the stress.
"Good Lord above. That Imperatrix of ours is up to no good again."
"Tell me about it. She's been going about the war all this time,"
"That stupid thing? I thought it was a joke!"
And it looks to her that she isn't alone in her distaste for the blonde woman.
"Hey! Why don't you quit yapping and get on back to work." Vespa shouted at the two maids gossiping at the side as they swept the hallway.
"Y-yes madam Vespa." the two maids said with haste before returning to their work in silent subdual.
"Haah… kids these days. They don't know when to shut up. I don't know where this is coming from, but all this bad talk about the Imperatrix is getting on my nerves. It's like wildfire all over the palace. Even the streets are talking ill about her. Let me tell you, Chara, this is not good at all." Vespa ranted as they walked through the halls. Her glare of annoyance caused the rest of the servants to shut up and get back to their work as they passed by.
Meanwhile, the cause of all the negative press merely nodded in silence so as to not blow her cover.
"It must be 'those people' at play, it has to be. Ever since that weakling of a man, Lucius Dominicus fell out of power, they've done nothing but cause problem after problem for Londinium." Vespa said to Chara once more as they took a turn towards the outer court.
"Why do you think that Nero wouldn't be like those people?" Chara asked curiously. Her misgivings for the Roman wannabe were set aside so that she could make sense of why Vespa would be so supportive of Nero.
"Because I can see it in her eyes, Chara. She wants to change things. And change is good, like my father said. And seeing how miserable it is around here lately, I'd say a bit of change will do to make it better." Vespa said without an inkling of doubt.
Chara kept her lips shut tight. However, she let her head nod in affirmation. But the willingness to do so was lacking.
"I lived under Lord Aurelian, you know." Vespa started to share, "Loved him too. He was as kind and as great as his father, Regulus, had been. Or so, my mother said. But I loved him the same. He gave us the chance to live as Romans had before the Dark Times. In peace and prosperity like it had been so long ago. But all he had to do was die and then we got Lucius for 4 years."
"Why are you telling me this?" Chara asked as they passed by a group of soldiers muttering to themselves in discontent. Something about the winter supplies being bad quality.
"I'm telling you because you weren't there when Lucius ruled. You weren't there to see him tear down everything his forefathers built up. He increased the taxes by tenfold, banished his grandfather to Hullbridge, and even started worshiping with the pagans. He's become a deviant by the time Nero came and took over. And by God, did she save us. Nowadays, I can afford a full meal on the table for my family - a rarity back then." Vespa said as they walked towards the palace gates.
"And that's your measure for good change? A complete breakfast?" Chara callously asked. The story is not fazing her one bit.
"When you have a family of 3, you'd understand." Vespa said with a fleeting smile. She then faced the gates and shouted for the guardsman to open it for them. Said guardsman obliged. The large iron downs creaked and croaked as it moved aside for the two maids. It revealed the bustling town of Londinium readying for Christmas eve.
"Ah…" Vespa sighed as she took in the fresh winter air. "Nothing like a good day for a walk. Well then, I'll be on my way and you go on do your thing. You wanted to buy candles, right?"
"Yes, I did. I'll see you later, Vespa." Chara briefly answered before she started walking the opposite direction. Vespa waited until Chara became one with the crowd before she went on her way.
But the moment she took a step further from the palace, a group of voices came up. But one stood out as he called out to her.
"Excuse me, young lady. Would you spare a moment of your time to help me and my companions?"
Vespa heard the voice and was about to ask what it was the person needed. However, the person she saw was not someone she expected to see today. Or ever at all, actually. The person was tall. Easily a head taller than her. His hair is as golden as the sun and his eyes as blue as the sky. But they have that winter sheen to it as the snow came down on the city. Draped upon his being was a raggedy old cloak to either protect him from the elements or from the people who would flock to him once they found out who this person was.
"Hi- High King-" Vespa stuttered. To see Arthur Pendragon not only in peasant clothing but also address her out of all people caused her brain to malfunction 'slightly'. Vespa was going to complete her sentence had it not been for an unusually soft and uncalloused hand gently covering her lips. Suddenly, the cool blue eyes turned ice cold as the King of Camelot formally addressed the maid.
"Please restrain yourself from calling me 'King'. You may call me, Arthur. But let us move on from that. I would like to ask you to accompany me throughout the city with my companions for just a moment. We need to find a certain person and we cannot do it without your knowledge of the city." Vespa then noticed Arthur then slowly bringing his hand down and turning to his group to come forward. They were all wearing hooded cloaks, but because of how short Vespa was, she could see up into the hoods and realise that two of them were Sirs Lancelot and Bedivere. The rest were probably soldiers of Camelot judging by how guarded they look.
"Bu-but, your majes-"
Cue the glare underneath the hood.
"Uh, I mean. Arthur. I thought there would be a meeting today?"
"There has been a change of plans. A personal matter has come to me that needs to be addressed before I return here once more." Arthur vaguely explained. He looked towards Lancelot and Bedivere, causing the two of them to take half the men of Camelot and split off from the main group to separate avenues of the city. Whether it be for the King's safety or his own personal wishes, Vespa cannot say. All that was ringing in her head was now she was along with the High King walking amidst the sea of people that was her fellow kinsmen.
"Where are you headed now, my lady?" Arthur asked as they turned around the bend towards the more inner parts of the city.
"W-well, I'm off to the bar you see. I live near it and thought I would say hello to the barkeep and his wife. They're good friends of mine." Vespa explained. She then looked up to see nothing but thinly pressed lips and eyes calculating something the maid cannot even begin to comprehend.
"Interesting. If you were so kind to bring me to this bar you speak of, would that be too much of a burden to you?" Arthur asked concernedly. He thinks that it's a bit too much to go asking all these favours to a maid he barely knew. But, as long as he could get to where he needs to, he supposed. It would all be worth it in the end.
"Yes of course! If you fancy a drink or so, I could even offer some choices for you." Vespa enthusiastically replied. Finally, she thought. Some sort of common ground to get to know this mysterious King who'd randomly come out of the palace. Her smile quickly devolved into a look of great dismay when the King smoothly swayed his head in rejection of her proposal.
"Oh no, please forgive me. I didn't mean to dismiss your generous offer. I was simply thinking of something else. I would love to hear about the local drinks in this area. " Arthur was quick to apologise to the downtrodden woman and then began to distract her by conversing with her about the beverages found around here.
All while they got closer and closer to a tall building of 2 stories height. It was made of wood and its windows covered with leather to insulate the inside from the winter outside. Even with its peak hours being in the darker parts of the evening, the bar was as lively as ever. Many people come and go with festive voices about them.
"I would suggest a drink called Cider. Made from apples, they said it was. I tried a sip and it was heavenly, truth be told." Vespa ended with a wistful smile. Her knowledge considers all sorts of beverages ranging from wines, fruit drinks, and finally, cider. It was kind of head spinning for Arthur to hear so many of these since he was never the indulger of those kinds of influences.
"Interesting… very well. I shall take your advice. Once we enter the tavern, I will order one of these 'ciders'" Arthur considered. Which brought the maid to a smile of joy.
"Great choice!" Vespa applauded.
They entered the tavern and it is here when Vespa felt a certain shift in the air around the disguised High King. His comely demeanour takes more… odd facade. His eyes are sharper than before, his shoulders tense, and his movements slow… like a fox sensing danger (but she doesn't know that). She can't say anything more about it other than it's maybe just Arthur acting more guarded inside a building of many potential evil doers who might do something not good. Causing her to be wary.
"Is something wrong?" Vespa asked apprehensively.
Arthur merely looked at her with mild curiosity. How peculiar, to have met a woman with a keen sense to her. How could she tell the King's tension if not for that? His silence gave way to an answer to his question.
"My husband was a soldier in the Aurelian war. He was taught discipline above all so he rarely showed his feelings to me. But, I managed to tell what he needed and wanted by his mannerisms. And what you are doing right now is exactly what he does when he notices something wrong." Vespa explained as she and Arthur walked towards the wooden tables situated at the far side of the tavern. Where not many can see them and what they are doing.
"I can assure you that I am merely preparing myself for someone. That person is said to come around here soon at this time. I am simply just preparing for the person's arrival." Arthur briefly explained as he waved the barkeep for a mug of cider.
"Is it someone dangerous?" Vespa worried. She was a handmaid, yes. But she was not stupid. The King would not be like this right now if it was someone of kind intent.
"I do not know." Arthur answered cryptically. He folded his arms in front of him as he leaned a bit closer for Vespa to hear. "I am merely told that they would be a person of little renown and with a purpose beyond my own comprehension. All I know is that we would be together by now."
Vespa did not like the sound of that. She nervously looked around the bar for anyone trying to get closer to them. But none came forth. She turned around to see Arthur looking at her with that strange gaze that she cannot understand its purpose. Whatever it may be, Vespa knows that staying around to see won't be good.
"W-well, I sure hope that things will turn out for good." Vespa struggled to blurt out.
"...Yes, I hope it will." Arthur replied.
The barkeep then came with their drinks of Cider and Vespa, knowing all too well of the dangers lurking by, drank a lot of it. She even dared to ask for more afterwards. Drowning in cider would surely be a solution to the problem, right? Oh well, it's not like there would be much lost if this stranger Arthur speaks of comes around and makes her bite the dust. She's just a simple mother to three children with nothing behind her family name. Besides, at least her husband is earning way more as a blacksmith. Wow, this cider is stronger than she remembered. Oh well, at least it's working.
"You need not fear. For as long as I am here, no harm shall befall you." Arthur consoled after Vespa downed the 3rd mug. He had not touched his drink at all. Is this actually happening right now? Of all the things he expected when he set forth from the Halls, this was not it.
"Thankssssss, arthurrrr…" Vespa slurred. Her mug slamming the table in a graceless manner. She was too drunk to even think about the potential danger at this point. Nor did she even care.
"Oh dear me. This is quite a sight to see." a foreign voice spoke out. Vespa looked up to see who it was but before she could discern the identity of the person, she suddenly blacked out. A weird feeling came to her forehead after the fact.
…..
plonk.
Arturia watched in great dismay as the handmaiden's head almost met the hard table. Had it not been for her hand cushioning the fall, the maid would've been knocked out for longer than intended. She looked towards the mage who had done this to Vespa and frowned.
"It appears that you were wrong, Merlin." Arturia said as she gently set Vespa on the table.
"Yes, I was. When I saw that vision of a maid being your future assassin, I had thought that preempting the attempt now would be a better option than letting her come to you. But it seems that you had met someone uninvolved instead." Merlin explained as he brought a stool from someplace and sat close to Arturia to continue his explanation.
"Just like I said, there would be a maid planning to go outside the Halls and go meet with her accomplices. And I had expected you to follow her so that she may think to use this moment as a means to press on with your murder, Arthur." Merlin finished.
"So that it would lead to two birds being struck by one stone: the apprehension of the assassin, and the discovery of her allies." Arturia added.
"However, I didn't foresee that there would be two of them." Merlin acquiesced.
"Pardon?" Arturia asked.
"You must have not seen the other one then, Arthur. In between the time you and your men met with this maid, there was another who left beforehand. While you were speaking to this one, Lancelot noticed a woman of the same attire as this maid walking towards the River. I then told Lancelot it would be a great idea to follow her once I heard this from him.
"And when did you hear of this?" Arturia pondered as she took a sip of the cider for the first time. It tasted… nice.
"About an hour ago. As soon as he told me this, I went straight to you. Do not worry about Bedivere and his men. They are on the way to assist Lancelot. The only one not to be there is you and I." Merlin answered as he, by right of conquest, took Vespa's mug and drank from it.
"And where is this place?" Arturia asked as she rose from her seat. Merlin too got up and then answered.
"Near the River Thames." Merlin said as he chugged up all the contents of his drink.