Chapter 25: A/N I do not own Merlin. I'm not very sure when the pilgrimage to Morgana's father's tomb was, but it seemed to be winterish-to me at least- so for this fic it was at the beginning of February. I honestly can't remember my time jumps, so I'm not sure if it matches, but yea, let's say they went on the pilgrimage beginning of February and Merlin arrived early-to-mid April. Also, I swear, this isn't just a filler chapter, It has something to do much later on in the story. Just bear with me. The pied piper was one of my least favorites when I was younger, but my brother's loved it. Just to torture me I guess. But I did enough torturing when it came my turn to pick the story from grandpa and it was ALWAYS Cinderella, Snow White, Thumbelina, Rapunzel or Sleeping Beauty.
"Hunith wrote me." Gaius said.
"Who?" Cassie asked, not recognizing the name.
"My sister! Remember I told you about her, and her boy, Merlin"
"Oh! Right." Cassie gasped, embarrassed that she forgot about them. "What'd she say? If I may ask."
"She's sending Merlin to Camelot."
"I'd love to meet him, the stories you've told make me laugh."
"To live." Gaius said, gauging her reaction.
"Yes, I rather assumed that's why she's sending him, Gaius." Cassie said.
"He'll need a place to stay. Would you mind helping me move my belongings out here. To that cupboard. I would do it but..." Gaius trailed off, putting his hand to his back.
"Of course, Gaius. I can change the bedsheets as well. When's he due?"
"He's to set off for Camelot in a months' time Wednesday."
"Okay, then." Cassie said with a smile.
"Thank you, Cassie." Gaius said, not sure how exactly to broach the matter that he would need work.
"I'm off to do my rounds, now, Gaius. Is there anything else you need?"
"No, thank you." Gaius said, and Cassie nodded in farewell.
It'd been about two weeks since Cassie talked to Owaine about her magic. Owaine no longer blamed himself, and was allowed to go back to full training by Gaius. He no longer went out on raids and missions. Instead he opted for border patrols and training duty. Hardly glamorous, but he wouldn't knowingly go after innocents. Not anymore.
Cassie wound her way through the busy market to get to her last stop of the day.
"Hi, Alex! How are you today?" she called after the little boy, making her way to knock on the door.
Since That day when she gave him some of her rabbit stew, the boy only wanted her to treat him and his mother. In truth, Cassie had grown rather fond of the boy, his childish laughter and wonder-filled eyes.
"Ah, Cassie, come on in! How are you?" Mary greeted, moving to allow her entrance.
"Very well, thank you, Mary. The green finally wore off! Lady Morgana and Gwen had me looking like a troll for SO long." Cassie complained, emphasizing the 'so'.
"You did look very funny, Cassie! Do you have time for a story?" Alex asked excitedly, following her into the cottage.
"After I check your mother over, okay?" Cassie promised with a smile.
"Okay!" the little boy said before running out the door to continue playing with his friends.
"He's getting too big, Mary! My how the time flies. Let's see what's wrong with you?" Cassie said and got to work examining her.
"Well, we won't know for sure until after but here." Cassie said, giving Mary wheat and barley seeds.
"I think you know what to do with these." Cassie said with a gleam in her eyes.
"No! You really think so?" Mary asked with bright, hopeful eyes.
"I do. I'd say maybe four months, based on your description and my examination. Tender breasts, spotting, elevated temperature, exhaustion, dizziness, weight gain. Your ombligo is starting to stick out. It's just my guess, but we'll know after." Cassie said, glancing at the seeds.
"I have to tell Robert!" Mary cried happily.
"I'll look after Alex for a bit. Go on and find your husband." Cassie chuckled.
"Thank you!" Mary said, giving her a kiss on the cheek and calling for her son when she opened the door. "Stay with Cassie for a bit, she's going to tell you a story." she told her son while rushing out the door.
"So, what story do you want today?" Cassie asked fondly, settling down against the foot of the bed.
"Hmm… You pick." Alex said, a finger to his chin thinking.
"I know. Había una vez un precioso pueblo llamado-" Cassie stopped when Alex began giggling.
"You have to tell me in English, Cassie!"
"Oh, my! How right you are! I apologize, good sir, Where was I? Oh yes. Once upon a time, on the bank of the Great River Weser, lay a small town called Hamelin, where you could breath the fresh air year-round! It was nestled near a valley where the houses had a beautiful view of the mountains! The people of this town were honest people who lived contentedly in their grey stone houses. The years went by and the town grew very rich." Cassie said in a happy tone
"Then one extraordinary day, with the sun shining down on the villagers, something happened to disturb the peace. This town had always had rats, mind you, but they weren't that big of a problem because the citizen's cats took care of them by killing them. But these rats, it seemed, were smarter than your usual rats. They started to multiply, and quickly. Soon, a black sea of rats swarmed over the whole town! First, they went after the barns and the storehouses. Then, because they had nothing else, they began to shew on the wood, like woodworm. Or the cloth, or anything at all! The only thing the rodents didn't eat was the metal." she continued gravely.
"The terrified villagers flocked to the town leaders, pleading with them for help to rid them of the infestation. But these men had been sitting in a chamber, thinking of just a solution. 'What we need is an army of cats!' one of them said. But all the cats were dead. 'What about poisoned food for the rats?' another asked. But most of the food was already gone, and poison did not stop them. 'It just cannot be done without help!' the village elder cried sadly. But while the citizens milled around outside and the leaders thought of a plan, there was a loud knock on the door. KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK." Cassie said knocking against the wooden bedframe.
" 'Who can that be?' they all wondered, wary of the angry crowd outside. They gingerly opened the door, and to their surprise, there stood a tall thin man with brightly colored robes. Just like Gaius wears! But in nice, bright colors, not that dull brown or orange he seems to like." Cassie joked, tapping Alex on the nose.
"This man had a long feather in his hat and was waving a gold pipe around. 'I have freed other towns of beetles and bats.' the stranger declared. 'And for a thousand florins, I will free your town from rats!' he exclaimed greedily. 'A thousand florins!' the elder cried out, 'We'll give you fifty thousand if you succeed!' Now, they never told me what florins really are, but fifty thousand!? I can't even count to that" Cassie exclaimed in astonishment at the number.
"And so the stranger quickly left saying, 'It is late now! But at dawn tomorrow, there will not be a rat left in Hamelin!' And so early the next day, before the sun had even reached the horizon, there was the sound of a pipe wafting through the streets of Hamelin. The pied piper slowly made his way through the houses, and behind him flocked the rats. Out the windows, and the doors, and the barns they scampered. Rats of all sizes! Every last one after the piper. And as he played his strange instrument, the ats followed him. Through the streets, towards the river. He waded in until he was covered to his waist, and every last rat followed him. They all drowned, and every last one was swept away by the current." Cassie said in a voice of excitement, tickling the little boy.
"By the time the sun was high in the sky, there was not a single rat in the town. There was even greater delight in the village center. That is, until the piper tried to claim his payment. 'Fifty thousand florins?' exclaimed the leaders in unison. 'Never…' they started but the piper interrupted them. 'A thousand, at least!' cried the piper angrily. But the elder broke in saying, 'The rats are all dead, and they can never come back! Be happy with the fifty we'll give you, or you'll not even get that!'" Cassie acted out indignation for the piper and stingy for the elder.
"' You will bitterly regret ever breaking your promise to me' the piper promised, eyes flashing with rage and a threatening finger pointed at the man before he turned and left. A shiver of fear ran through the leaders at this, but the elder exclaimed happily 'We saved fifty thousand florins!' Now, Alex. What do you think will happen?" Cassie asked, taking a break from the story.
"He will come back and take revenge, won't he?" Alex asked, engrossed in the story.
"That he will, little one. But I will finish this story some other time. It seems your parents want a word with you." Cassie said pointing towards the doorway where Robert and Mary stood.
"Thank you, Cassie. Did he give you any trouble?" Robert asked, giving her the coin for her services to Mary.
"Thank you, Robert, and no, there was no trouble. He was captivated by the story." Cassie said.
"I don't know how you do it! I can never get him to sit still long enough to eat his food! Let alone tell him a story."
"It's because it is a story I heard from some Alemanni travelers when I was younger. You must not have heard it here. It's new, so he pays attention." Cassie explained.
"You'll have to tell it to us sometime, too." Mary said.
"I will. Congratulations, both of you! I must get going now. Bye Alex!"
"Thank you for watching him, Cassie."
"Bye Cassie!" Alex called after her as she walked out the door. She turned around to give the boy a blinding smile and a wave goodbye.
Post chapter A/N Most of this chapter was written by the Grimm brothers, so I don't own the pied piper story either. I can't remember if that's exactly how the grimm version went, I was doing it by memory tbh. Also, not a doctor. Most of the symptoms are just what i've heard my friend complaining about-she's about seven months along!