Bonding and Curse Breaking Pt. 1/2

For the next few days Arthur wandered about the forest staying close to the meadow. Each day he would wait for Freya to bring him food.

He tried to scavenge on his own for berries and even tried grass but he missed actual food. He also discovered the general area of where he was. It took a while but he was a good day or two away from Camelot. He had wandered off one day west to the edge of the forest and could see a rocky beach front.

Arthur knew that he had to get back home and after a couple of days even knew how but the thought of leaving Freya didn't seem right. So far she was the only lead he had for turning back. What if he tried to return to Camelot and came across a patrol hunting or some poachers. Arthur needed to survive and get home in one piece and the only way to do that is to be human first.

He imagined trotting his way into Camelot entering the Palace and going to see his father. He doubts even the king would know what to do or recognize his son. No, the best thing was to stay with Freya and see if she could turn him back… with magic. Another thing which he was starting to feel off about.

Freya never flaunted her magic but when she started to watch over him while he ate he always felt a warmth fill him. She would also sit away from him cautiously as if she was aware that he felt uncomfortable of her magic but not enough to not use it. Arthur would watch as she would set up a blanket manually while pieces of wood and rock would levitate and move till they finally settled down to create a small fire pit. Then with a flash of gold and a mutter of words he couldn't quite understand a fire would lite.

The first night she did it Arthur's fear became quite evident as he stayed as far away as possible without leaving the meadow. He would flinch and twitch and just remain perpetually unstill until he would force himself to lie down facing away from her.

The druid took no offense but he could see a tinge of sadness. That night she picked up her blanket and carefully walked towards him. Freya knew she wasn't sneaking up on him as his ears would be raised and his head would turn slightly.

"Mr. Deer," She had said softly, "I wish I knew your name. I hope calling you Mr. Deer is okay."

Arthur bellowed softly in response without paying attention or turning to look at her.

"You don't like magic do you?"

Arthur turned at that slowly rising and turning to face her.

"It is not surprising considering how magic cursed you, but it is not all bad. I know you probably won't believe me but it really all depends on the person using it."

Freya unfolded the blanket pausing silently asking if she could lay it over him.

Arthur laid himself as low as he could to the ground and let her get close to put it on him.

"I learned a few things from the Druids, they took me in when I was really young. They're nice… a bit strict especially Chief but they're nice and have been looking after me."

Arthur took that in. He thought she was born a druid but maybe she was just a girl after all. Maybe she was good and the Druids were teaching her magic to change that goodness. They took her in when she was young so she couldn't possibly know that magic corrupts the soul like his father had taught him.

"I know that if I was cursed I might become wary of magic. I was always told by my father, before the Druids took me in, that I must be careful. That magic is a part of who we are but some people won't understand it. How they fear it, causing them to act out and hurt us. I know that magic can bring trouble and we need to be secretive and hide for protection. But I have hope and maybe… it's silly but I hope one day everyone like me can be accepted for who they are. I love the forest and the mountains and lakes, but I would love to visit a city. To see the people there, go to the market, maybe even make a friend there. I want that but know I can't have it, yet not until things change and magic and non-magic folk can coincide peacefully."

Arthur knew then that his theory of the Druids corrupting her was wrong. She was a girl and she may have always had magic maybe inherited it from her father or taught by him at a young age he didn't know. What he did know is that he could feel her sadness and her love and her hope. He could feel so much radiating off of her but he didn't feel anger or slight at his lack of understanding. He could also feel that she was good. And that thought alone shook him to his core, because if she was good… If she was good and had magic then his father was wrong. He and his father had caused her and who knows how many other people so much pain. People who didn't deserve it. She couldn't possibly be the only exception.

Moreover, even though she never said it Arthur knew she didn't get to be the way she was if it was not for the druids and her father. They must be good people too if they managed to mold her to the person she is today.

Arthur wallowed in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed he had finished eating the food she had brought him. He lowered his snout to the ground his mouth open taking in some of the grass and dirt from the meadow. Once he noticed it was too late, but with it being what day four of being in the meadow it didn't taste as awful.

"Are you still hungry, Mr. Deer?" Freya asked, looking at him from the fire. Each day he would get a little closer, but still stay far enough away. He would get a bit cold but his new skin and hair protected him well. He missed the blanket though. Usually Freya would give him a few minutes to eat and then go over and cover him with the blanket.

Arthur shook his head and got up moving closer till he could tap on the blanket next to her.

Freya smiled widely, getting the blanket and extending it over her Cervidae friend.

"I have some news. I don't know if it can help much, but I talked to Atalina, one of the druid women, she says that the reason why Chief didn't want you staying with us is because the Keeper turned you into a deer as punishment and we shouldn't interfere with his rules."

Arthur could feel a sense of relief. She wasn't giving him any new information, yet but her mentioning Ahnora must mean she knows how to reach him. Maybe she could pass a message to the keeper on his behest to turn him back.

"She didn't really say why we can't intervene or what rules but she said that you had to learn your lesson and if you did the Keeper would turn you back. I don't know where exactly the Keeper is."

Arthurs sense of relief started waning as his ears flopped.

"...but I heard that he has a labyrinth to the west of here. You have to go west till you hit the edge of the forest and then head north. You could also head south then west but you might get trapped in the maze, so west and north is best you will be arriving near one of the exits of the maze by the beach."

Arthur pushed his snout gently against her. What exactly do you mean by that? Wasn't she coming with him?

"I don't know if I can go with you its a whole days walk there and back and the Chief would worry. I also am not really supposed to be helping you." Freya frowned looking into Arthur's literal doe eyes and patted his head gently.

Arthur bleated softly.

"I want to go, but it could be dangerous and I don't know what you'll need to do to break the curse. The Keeper could have you there a while and I'm not sure it's safe to come back on my own."

Arthur bleated again putting his head down. He could go on his own and face Ahnora, but he would miss her. Miss interacting with her and her compassion. She was also right, going with him would mean that she could be in danger. If they came across bandits, Arthur would do his best to protect her, but could only do so much without a sword.

I guess this is goodbye then. Arthur thought as he looked up at her gently petting his back.

"Mr. Deer, I promise I won't forget you. Come here once you break your curse and say hello for real, okay."

Arthur smiled, he knew he wouldn't be able to go back and see her again, but he would never forget her. Maybe one day their paths would cross again.

Ahnora smiled sternly as he stared into the water bowl looking at the prince and the druid. Perhaps the prince could be redeemed after all.

"Arthur Pendragon, for showing kindness to the druid girl, you have proven that you can be compassionate to other human beings; especially those who you have been apprehensive off in the past. For that you shall be rewarded."