Chapter 18: A/N I don't own Merlin, never have, probably never will.
"So, where is it you're meant to be going?" Cassie asked Morgana the next day in the courtyard.
"Every year I go on a pilgrimage to my father's resting place. Usually I take Gwen with me, but since her father's ill, I've given her the day." Morgana explained in a melancholy voice.
Cassie could tell that she would miss Gwen's presence, the girl had a way to make everyone feel better, no matter what. And Morgana had been such a good friend to her these past months that Cassie felt she had to do something to cheer the raven-haired girl up, even for just a little while.
"I can go, if you'd like. I know what it's like to miss your father. In Hispania we would have a day to remember him by, it was always a very somber day. We didn't make any pilgrimages, though. He was interred nearby." Cassie said softly, hoping Morgana would accept the offer.
"Would you?" Morgana asked in relief, a smile gracing her features.
"Of course, 'Gana. you're my best friend." Cassie replied, smiling in return.
"I'll have another horse saddled." She said, signaling to a stable boy.
"Oh, I don't mind bareback. They don't have to go to the trouble." Cassie replied, not wanting such a fuss made over her.
"Nonsense. Bareback is rather uncomfortable, and it's not proper for a Lady."
"You said it yourself 'Gana. I'm not a Lady." Cassie said as she saddled the horse herself.
"Maybe not now, but you will shortly." Morgana said, a glint in her eye which Cassie did not fail to notice.
"What does that mean?" Cassie asked suspiciously. "Surely you're not trying to make me a Lady, King Uther would never allow it, I'm not even from these lands!"
"I wasn't thinking about Uther." Morgana said, shaking her head. "I was speaking about you and Owaine. When you marry, you become a Lady." Morgana said, as one of the knights helped her mount up trying to contain his laughter.
"If. Not when." Cassie said blushing. "Why did he say something?!" She practically squealed, excitement seeping through her words.
"With that attitude, it'll be never." Morgana teased, a smile tugging at her lips.
"My Lady, Cassie." Sir Ewan greeted with a respectful nod as he approached, he was one of the knights that would be guarding the King's Ward on her pilgrimage.
"Sir Ewan." the two girls greeted from atop their horses. "How many knights are coming today?" Morgana asked the knight, slightly annoyed at her Guardian's over-protectiveness.
"Just missing Sirs Leon and Owaine, my lady." Sir Ewan said, mounting his own horse. "They were supposed to report to the King before leaving."
"Did you have Gwen pack some food, or will we be back by lunchtime, my lady?" Cassie asked, formalities at play once again.
"No, I forgot." Morgana admitted timidly.
"No, worries, I'll just go prepare something quickly." Cassie said, finding an excuse to go put some makeup on and change into one of the finer cloaks she owned. She had recently bought new cloaks and dresses with her wages as physician's apprentice. Morgana, of course, saw straight through her excuse and chose not to call her out on it.
"Very well. Take your time. We won't leave until you're back with the food. It's a rather long ride. Make sure to tell [cook] to pack enough for six of us!" Morgana called after the petite blonde.
"Yes, my lady." Cassie said with a curtsy.
So off she went, first to the kitchens so that [cook] will ready the food for the six, then off to her room, looking for the deep red cloak she had bought only last month. She put some blush on her cheeks and some light gloss on her lips before rushing back down to the kitchens. All without breaking a sweat or messing up her hair.
"That was quick!" Ewan stated.
"Really?" Cassie asked with a shrug of her shoulders, trying to act cool, and failing judging from the repressed laughter of the other knights and Morgana. She ignored it and packed the food into her saddle.
"What? It's not like I ran," she said, "I hastened." She finished with an air of regality few had ever been able to accomplish, unless born that way, as she mounted her horse. This left them all open-mouthed. Morgana kicked her horse forward and led the small group of knights and the pretty blonde towards the gate.
They traveled for hours, making polite small talk with the knights on the way. As Morgana neared her father's final resting place she grew more somber and quiet. Cassie knew it was best to leave her friend to grieve, her own mind traveling across seas and mountains to her family. They stayed like that in companionable silence until finally reaching their destination. Morgana dismounted first, walking up to the gravestone alone where she kneeled and spoke softly. Out of respect for her friend, and respect for their Lady, Cassie and the knights remained near the horses after dismounting.
"You okay?" Sir Leon asked. "You seem to be anywhere but here."
"Yes, I'm right. Just giving Morgana some quiet." Cassie replied.
"Okay, but you've been here about four and a half months, and you said that you spent about seven months traveling. I figured maybe…" Leon replied trailing off at the end, leaving it obvious what he thought.
"No, that's next month." Cassie replied sadly. "But I appreciate you remembering."
"Truthfully it was Owaine who reminded me. He's off scouting the surroundings in case of bandits or mercenaries. Everyone knows that Lady Morgana does this yearly on the same day, and that through her it's easy to get to the King."
"Morgana can hold her own, but I think she appreciates having the knights here, even if she acts differently." Cassie said, smiling tenderly.
"No one in sight." Owaine and Ewan commented, coming back from their scouting.
"I'll go see if Morgana wants to find a spot for lunch, or if she'd like to eat here." Cassie said, not looking at Owaine for fear of showing what she's really thinking about. Leon was a good friend, but her family-no her secret- was something she just wasn't ready to share. With anyone.
""Gana. Are you ready to have lunch, or would you like a few more moments?" Cassie asked after tentatively walking up to her friend and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder..
"No, I 'm ready now. Thank you, Cassie." she replied, placing her own hand over the younger blonde's.
"Lead the way, my lady." Cassie said, hoping to sound comforting in the familiarity.
"There's a spot ideal for lunch near here. I will lead, then we can stop for lunch and make our way back." Morgana stated.
"As you wish, my Lady." Sir Ewan said, mounting his horse.
They rode east for fifteen minutes before Morgana stopped her horse and dismounted. As Cassie made to prepare the area for a picnic an arrow came out of nowhere and hit Owaine in the shoulder. The knights immediately drew their swords and closed ranks on Morgana, protecting her. Owaine had since fallen off his horse.
"Get Morgana to safety, I'll take care of Owaine." Cassie said hurriedly, mounting her horse and riding over to Owaine while four nights ushered Morgana out rapidly. Sir Leon remained behind to help Cassie with Owaine.
"I'm not leaving you. Morgana would kill me." he said bluntly while dismounting his horse and taking a protective stance before her.
As he said this, about ten men came running out of the tree line with their swords unsheathed. Leon engaged the nearest man quickly, trying to gain the upper hand.
"You lot, go after Lady Morgana! Oskar and I will take care of these." the leader said, Oskar sneering at the knight he was fighting, the leader marching towards the servant girl with a lecherous look in his eyes.
"Cassie! Run!" Leon said, putting in extra effort to dispatch Oskar , the sound of swords clashing could be heard in the distance.
"No, I won't leave Owaine! I can defend myself, Leon. It sounds like the others need your help more. Go protect Morgana!" Cassie yelled back, Owaine's sword in her hands.
The leader just laughed while taking in the sight of the girl. 'My she really is something. If not royalty, she would make a good slave.' the man thought, greed and lust warring in his mind. He made the first move, swinging his sword towards her side. Little did he know, the 'girl' had a talent for sword fights. While her brothers had never let her train with them, she had watched long enough to know the basic techniques, and had snuck a training sword to practice on her own. She made quick work of the block and they began a dance of blocking and parrying. This went on for little over two minutes before Cassie ducked under his arms and made for her saddlebags. She grabbed the dagger she had taken to carrying with her whenever she went into the forest. And threw it forcefully. Her aim was true. It hit the leader between the eyes and embedded itself an inch short of the hilt. Before she could stop to look, Cassie went to help Owaine. She saw the red seep through hid tunic, she panicked, clearly still hearing the sounds of battle, and placed her hands on his shoulder before whispering: "Teon út sé gÁr, áfeorme bæn blóddolh, gerenne, ĝefanga bæm bónlocum ond se ferjgt."
Post chapter A/N The spell is very roughly translated to mean: Draw out the arrow, clean the bleeding wound,clot the blood, join together the muscles and skin. Since you're technically not supposed to pull an arrow out because it causes more damage and all, I included it in the spell:) Bit of a cliffie, I know. Deal with it, I had to. My inspiration ran out. Biochem was calling my name :( and totally threw me into writer's block.