Chapter 23: A/N I do not own Merlin. Btdubs, cupidity=lustful desire. I said that Owaine looked like Chris O'donnell in scent of a woman, but I saw long hot summer the other day, and now I can't stop picturing Paul Newman as one of my OC's, so Pellinore and his wife Ellie are now Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. P.S. I swooned when he was shirtless with the pillow thrown over his back, literally. I wanted so bad to be that damn pillow.
"Cassie." Owaine started in an apologetic tone, "I...Th...D'y-" He cut himself off taking a deep breath and continued. "Do you have magic?"
Her face went from flushed red with embarrassment and cupidity, to an ashen white. 'El sabe! ¿Cómo? Por eso paró, se dio cuenta y ahora no quiere nada que ver conmigo.' she thought in panicked sadness.
Owaine saw her reaction, how pale she went and her frightened eyes. He realized in an instant that he wouldn't turn her in, to anyone. He would save her, and he wouldn't tell Uther.
Through tearful eyes and a watery voice she whispered the affirmative "Yes."
"Please, don't tell them. I won't go back, not after… Just, please, don't. Say that I died or something, but don't ruin their image of me." she begged before turning around and running off through the undergrowth.
"Cassie! Cassie, wait!" he called after her, worried she would get hurt. He started to follow slowly with his walking stick and the saddle bag.
Cassie ran, tears blurring her path. She didn't notice when she ran right into a horse.
"Cassie!" Sir Pellinore cried in relief. "We've been looking all over for you. Where's Owaine? Where's my brother?" he asked worriedly as he dismounted. But before she could say anything, her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fainted, Pellinore catching her and scooping her up in his arms.
"Over here! I've found Cassie!" Sir Pellinore called to his comrades. Three horses trotted into view and their riders asked simultaneously:
"Where's Owaine?" Bruin asked.
"What happened to her?" Leon asked.
"Why's she fainted?" Durnure asked.
"Cassie!" they heard someone call from a distance, all three with matching grins as they heard the voice.
"Over here, Owaine!" Sir Leon called out as he motioned for Pellinore to pass her over so he could greet his brother. Leon made sure she was comfortable on the horse before turning back towards the knights.
When they saw him approaching with the walking stick, Pellinore ran over and hugged him.
"Little brother! I'm so glad you're not dead! Mother would have killed me! But I'm not as excited to see you as you are to see me." he teased, making the knights laugh rowdily. He remembered seeing the tear tracks on Cassie's face and put two and two together. "We'll talk later, but first what happened?" Pellinore worriedly asked, after a pointed look at his younger brother.
"Sprained ankle, and I hit my head when they knocked me off my horse" he explained, covering up for the girl. He may not know what exactly happened, but he wasn't willing to risk her life for it.
"Can you mount the horse? The city's not that far from here, a day's ride."
"Yeah, I can mount him." He said, noting Cassie was safe in Leon's arms. "She must be exhausted. Hunted a hare last night. There's some left if you're hungry." he said, worried about the girl.
"In the dark?" Durnure asked, astonished.
"With a makeshift bow and arrow too, well twig with a sharpened end for an arrow." he said, trying to mount Pellinore's horse.
"Good hunter." he said approvingly.
"Why'd the horse run off? When she came back without you two, Lady Morgana went crazy with worry." Leon asked.
"Saw a snake. Got spooked. We'd dismounted so that Cassie could wrap my ankle, but she grabbed the wrong saddle bag and the horse bolted before she could get the right one." he said, finally on the damn horse.
"A snake?" Bruin repeated incredulously. "In the winter?"
"Well it was sluggish and slow, but yes, a snake. Cassie threw a rock at it and it slithered away, not wanting to be killed I suppose." the knights grunted in response.
They rode towards Camelot asking him questions. Cassie stirred, some thirty minutes after they found her, in Leon's arms and then fell back asleep snuggled up against the strong knight's chest.
Owaine saw this and felt a flare of jealousy that she was snuggled against anyone other than him. Pellinore, who was behind him on the horse, saw his reaction and chuckled.
"You're not really jealous of Leon, are you? He wouldn't do anything, he knows how you feel about her." Pellinore said low enough so no one else would hear.
"That's not it. Seeing her with him like that, after we-" he replied just as quietly, cutting himself off before saying anything to embarrass the girl he loved.
"She was crying when I found her. What happened?" Pellinore asked, slowing down the horse slightly to gain space. The other knights realized the two brothers must want some privacy so they rode just a little further ahead.
"Something happened last night that has me conflicted." Owaine answered vaguely. "And this morning, we almost...we almost got together this morning." Owaine answered, not knowing how to say it without tarnishing the beautiful girl's reputation or betraying her trust.
"So she was crying because…?" Pell prompted.
"I stopped it before we could go any further. I don't know if what I feel is love. At least I'm not completely sure what I feel. Not anymore. And I didn't want her to...be with me if I'm not sure. It would hurt her too much."
"Brother, it's plain as day that you love her. All of Camelot knows how you two feel for each other. Why don't you?"
"It's complicated." he mumbled in response.
"Talk to her, uncomplicate it. She deserves that much." Pellinore advised his younger brother, worried for him.
"I know." Owaine said despondent.
When they arrived at the gates, Alex, the village boy, saw her on the horse with Sir Leon and ran to tell Gaius.
The knights dismounted at the courtyard to find Gaius, Lady Morgana and Gwen there waiting with worried expressions. Upon seeing the girl asleep on the horse, Gaius ran forward and looked on in concern as the knights dismounted and Leon gently woke Cassie up.
"What happened to you!? Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Gaius asked, not allowing any time for either of them to answer before ushering the duo up to the physician's tower.
"I'm fine, Gaius. Just cold." the girl wearily told her guardian going up the steps.
"Where are your shoes, Cassie?" Gwen asked, confused, following behind them with Morgana, Pellinore, Bruin and Leon.
"I burned them. By accident. They got wet and I put them by the fire to dry. Only I put them too close to the fire." Cassie finished sheepishly. She hated lying. 'Las mentiras fueron las que espantaron a Owaine.' she thought bitterly.
"And your dress?" Morgana added, sure that it wasn't the same plum dress she had left with four days ago.
"My fault, my lady. She cut it up to make bandages for my ankle." Owaine piped in, looking at the girl trying to convey the lies he had told his brothers-in-arms.
"Yes, well I'll have to check that ankle again, all the travelling must have aggravated it. After I check Cassie over."
"Gaius, I'm fine. All I need is to wash up and change." she wearily told him.
If a bath is what you need, you're welcome to use mine. It's the least I could do, Cassie. You saved me." Morgana said with doe-like eyes full of wonder.
"'Gana, I would do it again. You're my best friend. You and Gwen, I wouldn't bat an eyelash if it meant saving you."
"Brave and loyal to a fault! You never cease to surprise me, Cassie."
"Worried for me, were you Bruin?"
"Aw, I've grown fond of you. You're like the annoying younger sister I have to look out for." Bruin replied mirthfully, grabbing her in a side hug and mussing up her hair. Cassie stuck her tongue out at him playfully, making everyone present laugh.
"I will take you up on your offer, 'Gana." Cassie added thankfully to the girl, missing the triumphant looks shared between Gwen and Morgana.
"After I check you over, Cassie. I'm afraid I must insist."
"Alright, Gaius." Cassie conceded, not wanting to argue.
They had reached the door to the Physician's chambers when Gaius ordered the men to stay outside while he checked Cassie over.
"So, how's it feel knowing a girl saved you?" Bruin began the teasing while Morgana started with her teasing.
"How'd he react to you saving him? Can't have been easy having a girl save a knight of Camelot."
"Oh ha ha Morgana. If anything, he saved me too. I would've ended up walking around in circles out there." Cassie replied light-heartedly, effectively avoiding said teasing.
"What did happen?" Gwen asked.
"Bandits attacked, knocked him off his horse and then went after Morgana. I stayed to help Owaine and fought off the leader while Leon killed the other one that stayed. I made him leave us, to go protect Morgana. He was beating me so I ran for my saddle bag and threw my dagger at him. It hit the target and I dragged Owaine onto the horse and galloped off. The horse got spooked by a snake and left us near a ravine with the saddle bag that had food. Owaine had hit his head and I was checking him when he stumbled down the ravine and sprained his ankle. He fell into a stream and I dragged him out and then to a cave I had seen because it had started to rain. We started walking slowly here after a day for the swelling to go down. Then the knights found us and colorín colorado, el cuento se a acabado." Cassie said, while Gaius checked her over.
"So, Gaius, what's the prognosis? Will I live?" Cassie said playfully, much to the amusement of the others.
"Yes," Gaius chuckled out, "Just a bath and rest. And food, you need to eat!"
"Told you!" Cassie said as she motioned for Morgana to lead the way out.
"Your turn, Owaine." Cassie said as she walked past him out the door.
"Cassie, can we talk?"
"Not right now, girl time." Cassie replied, somewhat distantly.
"Okay." he assented softly and turned into the room.
They made pleasant talk on the way to Morgana's chambers, but as soon as the doors were closed, both girls rounded on Cassie with questions.
"What happened?" Gwen asked immediately.
"Did you kiss?" Morgana followed excitedly.
"Tell us everything!" Gwen finished.
"Right now I need a bath! Then I'll answer everything." Cassie said, wanting to avoid thinking about that morning.
"I'll get someone to help me bring the water up." Gwen said and left the room.
"Here, wear this while you wait. That dress must feel really uncomfortable."
Morgana said, noting how fatigued her friend actually looked.
"Thank you, 'Gana. I really appreciate it." Cassie replied, accepting the silky dressing gown from her friend.
"I missed you, Cassie. I thought…" Morgana started, tearing up.
Cassie hugged her friend close to her. "I've told you before, 'Gana. You can't get rid of me that easily. I'm always here for you, okay?" Cassie said softly.
She moved to go behind the screen to change out of the dress she was currently wearing when Gwen came in with another serving girl and two water buckets each.
"You don't have to bring two at a time! Let me help, please." Cassie said, astounded at the strength of the brunette.
"Nonsense! You will stay and rest. Gaius' orders. Sarah and I can bring the water, really." Gwen replied.
"Bu-"
"I mean it Cassie! What was it you said to my father, I will take it as a personal affront!" Gwen said.
"Okay." Cassie conceded. "Thank you, both." she called after them as they turned back around.
She went behind the screen and changed out of Freya's dress and into Morgana's dressing gown.
When she came out from behind the screen, she saw that Morgana was kneeling next to the fire with the water buckets.
"'Gana you really don't have to do that! You'll get ashes on your dress."
"I have heated my own water before, Cassie. I'm not just a pampered princess." Morgana replied with a smirk.
"I know, it's still a very pretty dress, you shouldn't get it dirty." Cassie said, so Moraga straightened and showed her the flawless dress.
"See? Not a speck of ash on it. Now help me fill the tub so we can give these back to Gwen and Sarah empty for them to fill back up."
"On it."
It took them several trips with the water buckets, but finally the tub was filled and heated and Morgana even let Cassie use some of the bath salts she had.
"Oh, this feels wonderful! No me he tomado un baño tan rico en un año!" Cassie explained as she sunk into the delightful heat.
"I'm Glad you like it." Morgana said, smiling.
"Now spill. We want every last detail!" Gwen finished for Morgana.
"Okay, I'm ready for the barrage of questions." Cassie sighed out, defeatedly content.
"The first night, how'd you spend it?" Gwen asked.
"Owaine was unconscious most of it. When he fell in the stream I had to drag him out and get the water out of his lungs. So he was pretty exhausted." Cassie said, not really lying.
"So your first kiss was trying to revive him?" Morgana asked, disappointed for her friend.
"Yes," Cassie said.
"After, did you two…" Morgana trailed off suggestively
"Yes, we did." Cassie answered, not quite hearing the insinuation.
"Finally! What was it like?" Gwen squaled.
"What was he like?"
"Did it hurt?"
"Why would it-" Cassie began, but was interrupted by the two girls again.
"Was he slow, and tender? Or was he fast and passionate?"
"Tell us everything!"
"We just kissed!" Cassie exclaimed, cheeks fully flushed after she understood what exactly they were asking.
"There has to be something wrong with him! Two nights alone, in the woods, in the winter, with nothing else for warmth and he didn't make a move?!" Gwen exclaimed at the same time that Morgana spoke.
"What was the kiss like?" Morgana asked, giving the girl time to compose herself before the truly salacious questions would begin.
"The kiss. It was… everything I wanted, but it felt nothing like what I had dreamt. It was intoxicating, just being with him. And his lips felt so good on mine, the way his hands entwined in my hair…" Cassie sighed, wanting to go back to before this morning.
"Awww!" Gwen said as Morgana beamed.
"And after the kiss, what happened?" Morgana prompted
"I set my shoes on fire, so I had to try and save them. Didn't happen. We talked for a bit. About my family, my past. And then we fell asleep." Cassie lied.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"And the next day? More kisses?"
"We walked some until it started to rain, He got drenched and so I made him take his shirt off. Then a gust of wind got me soaked and I had to take my clothes off. S-"
"You were naked with him?" Morgana asked, clearly loving where the story was going.
"Not with him. He was shirtless, just shirtless."
"But you were completely naked?"
"Yes." Cassie said. She felt her cheeks flush and submerged her head under water to cool off.
"She was naked and he did nothing!" Morgana exclaimed incredulously. "Gwen must be right, who does nothing!?"
"She's not right. There's nothing wrong with him." Cassie said in a small voice, hoping the embarrassment wasn't too obvious.
"What happened, then?" Gwen asked.
"We talked long enough for his shirt to dry, then I wore it. The cloak was dry enough too, so I went hunting, we had no more food left, the guy has a serious appetite! When I came back we cooked and talked some more, then it started to rain again and my clothes got wet. Again. So I fell asleep in his shirt."
"Did you cuddle?" Gwen asked before Cassie could continue.
"Yes." she admitted, "We cuddled. I could feel his heart beating and his warmth. And we fell asleep like that. When I woke up the next morning Owaine had gone to do something, and my clothes were dry so I changed into them and Owaine and I had breakfast." Cassie finished pretty quickly, knowing that if she said anymore she would admit to everything that happened this morning.
"That's it?" Morgana said, slightly disappointed. Gwen, however, saw through how quick Cassie had finished and said, "that's not all!"
"He may, or may not have seen me changing. And I may, or may not have seen a slight bulge in his trousers." Cassie said quickly, rushing through because of her bashfulness.
"Why not just say what it is?" Morgana challenged.
"Aw, leave her be, Morgana." Gwen said, defending Cassie. "She's obviously prudish." Never mind, not defending.
"I am not!"
"Are too." The girls challenged in unison.
"Whatever. Do you want to hear the rest, or not?" Cassie said.
"YES!" they both said at the same time.
"Well, we both had breakfast, and when we went to get up, I tripped and fell on top of him."
"While he was stil-" Morgana started, amused
"Yes, while he was still." Cassie said quickly.
"So you two did go all the way?" Gwen squealed excitedly.
"No. I wanted to. I kissed him like I never would in public. I let my body take over, but he pushed me off. I might know why, but…" Cassie finished wistfully.
"I'm gonna march right up to him and demand answers!" Morgana said angrily.
"No! Don't, please. It doesn't matter. It's clearly over with us. Just let it go, please." Cassie begged, afraid he would tell them of her magic. She still didn't know what to do.
"Fine, only because you're asking."
"There is definitely something wrong with him!" Gwen cried in defense of her friend. "No man in their right mind would spurn you, Cassie. You're beautiful, intelligent, you can hunt and cook, and you're a damn good healer. You're the perfect wife!"
"Clearly, he doesn't think that." Cassie said softly.
"The water's cold already. I'll get dressed." Cassie said as there was a knock on the door.
"I'll go see who it is." Gwen said before the girl could get out of the water.
"My lord." Gwen said curtsying.
"Guinevere," he greeted. "Father wants to see you in the throne room. You too Cassie." he called out loud enough for them to hear from the corner where the tub was situated.
"'GANA! GWEN" Cassie yelled.
"Run while you can, Arthur." Morgana said laughing at his confused look and the girl's reaction.
"You painted my skin green!" Cassie exclaimed, hiding in the corner.
"You put itching powder!" Gwen said as explanation.
"You moved all my belongings!" Morgana reminded her.
"Fair enough. But I didn't make you look green before an audience with the King!"
"Private audience," Arthur added helpfully.
"Shut up, Arthur." Cassie said. "I'm not going now. I can't. There is absolutely no way I am going in front of the King looking like a damn fairy!"
"Have to. Can't keep the King waiting, Cassie!" Arthur said happily.
"What did I ever do to you!" Cassie cried around the corner.
"Used me."
"Most men love it when I 'use them,' why don't you?" Cassie said, smirking, though no one saw.
"I'm the Prince of Camelot! You can't use me!" Arthur cried. "The King's waiting, and it's something he doesn't like to do. So…"
"Fine! But I'm not getting dressed with you still here, Arthur. I do still have some dignity left."
"Okay," Arthur said with his hands lifted.
"Is he gone?"
"Yeah, he's gone."
"You two are such devils!" Cassie said laughing as she rounded the corner in a towel.
"Although, I can really see how this was the best opportunity to get back at me. Why green though?"
"You spent three days' in the forest, we figured you might miss all the greenery!" Gwen said laughing.
When Cassie finally got dressed she stepped out from behind the screen and threw the towel at Gwen.
"You know, the worst thing is that this dress clashes with my skin!" Cassie said looking at the mirror and fixing her hair. This comment earned the girl two tinkling laughs from her sisters in all but blood.
Post chapter A/N Hope you all liked it! Kinda long, I know, I just couldn't find a good place to stop. Hopefully my dialogue isn't too forced, especially with the girls, Last time I had this conversation was just me and my bestie, so my ideas were better suited to a two person convo, not a three person convo. Hope the levity at the end was alright? Or was it too out of place? Leave your reviews as always, I'm out!