Chapter 33:A/N I do not own Merlin. Light fluff at the end, I've let you know where it starts.
"We have enjoyed twenty years of peace and prosperity." Uther began his introduction. "It has brought the Kingdom and myself many pleasures, but few can compare with the honor of introducing Lady Helen of Mora." he concluded, smiling and clapping as he moved to his seat. The guests all clapped dutifully as they sat down to listen to Lady Helen sing.
"Blah khien barrah fweelah. Blah khien aiza krum."she began singing in a velvety voice.
"Aloe khio bragam harah eefnell." she continued, stepping off the stage and gliding down the aisle.
"Broe floe mesing lah, breeyoolah naaadryu." she kept singing, lifting her arms and looking right at the royals at the head table. The feast-goers started to nod off at this point. Cassie and Merlin both noticed and clamped their hands over their ears, Cassie did it rather inconspicuously, resting her elbows on the table and putting her hands over her ears. Her eyes remained open, but Lady Helen did not notice, her sole focus was the royals.
"Broilin sar akhwah, roe hagroe nonestroe." Helen sang, cobwebs beginning to form over the nobles farthest from the King. The candles began to flicker out behind her, and she moved forward slowly, the rest of the canldes going out..
"Broilin sar akhwah, mortsin danah dradeh. Broilin sar akhwah, noe…" she lowered her arms and stepped closer, pausing just shy of the chandelier and moving her gaze to the man sleeping next to Uther, his son. Arthur. Both Merlin and Cassie noticed this and Cassie began to panic, the cobwebs feeling more like restrains than anything. She tried calling her magic up, to stop the woman from harming her friend, but her fear and panic made her loosen her grip over her ears. The enchantment beagn taking hold and her eyes began drooping.
"Weeben proe, proe sah yakmah, haryay nakhah." Cassie saw her step barely out of range from the chandelier and forced herself to stay awake, to stop her. She started to focus her magic on the links holding up the chandelier, but the sleep was overtaking her. She managed to move the chandelier before she saw the dagger and everything went dark as sleep took her.
"We have enjoyed twenty years of peace and prosperity. It has brought the Kingdom and myself many pleasures, but few can compare with the honor of introducing Lady Helen of Mora." the King introduced, to the applause of all the guests. When the King and everyone esle had sat down, Lady Helen began singing.
"Blah khien barrah fweelah. Blah khien aiza krum. Aloe khio bragam harah eefnell. Broe floe mesing lah, breeyoolah naaadryu." Merlin noticed how some of the nobles began nodding off, Her voice was quite lovely, singing every note with such velvety, but when he saw servants and guards faeling asleep, he covered his ears with his hands.
"Broilin sar akhwah, roe hagroe nonestroe. Broilin sar akhwah, mortsin danah dradeh." Cobwebs began forming over the people and the candles went out. Merlin was looking franticaaly back and forth between the royals and Lady Helen, who had not taken her eyes off of them. She lowered her arms and changed her gaze to Arthur.
"Broilin sar akhwah, noe... Weeben proe, proe sah yakmah, haryay nakhah." 'She's going after Arthur!' Merlin realized with a start once she pulled out the dagger.
"AGAH! MADAH! SADAH! HAGAH!" He looked around trying to find something, some way to stop her as her voice and pitch raised. He noticed the barely swinging chandelier just as she raised her arm to throw the dagger at Arthur. He called his magic forward and with a glow of his eyes broke the link of the chandelier and dropped it onto Lady Helen.
The enchantment was lifted once she was knocked unconscious. The nobles stirred and dusted the cobwebs off. King Uther and Prince Arthur both stood up to look at Lady Helen, who had now turned into the old woman from the courtyard, Thomas' mother.
She lifted herself up enough to throw the dagger at Arthur. Both he and Uther, still coming out of the enchantment, just stared in horror at the dagger. Merlin slowed down time just as he had done when he arrived to save Gaius, and ran forward, pulling Arthur down out of the way of the dagger. They landed on the floor and Arthur sat up to stare at the dagger now embedded to the hilt where his heart had been seconds earlier. The woman died as both Merlin and Arthur stood up, failing to avenge her son.
"You saved my boy's life. A debt must be repaid." Uther said, staring at him with tears in his eyes.
"Oh, well…" Merlin said nervously, shifting around and glancing anywhere but directly at the King's eyes. The man freaked him out.
"Don't be so modest. You shall be rewarded." he said gratefully to the boy who saved his heir's life.
"No, honestly, you don't have to , Your Highness." Merlin said, still shifting about nervously. ' Will he just get on with it! I hate being the center of attention!'
"No, absolutely. This merits something quite special."
"Well." Merlin said, already dreaming about what he would do with whatever gift Uther bestows upon him.
"You shall be awarded a position in the royal household." Uther says, inflating Merlin's pride just a bit. "You shall be Prince Arthur's manservant."
"Father!" Arthur called after him,
'Is he serious! Why would I want that as my reward?' Merlin asked, looking away from Arthur unhappily as everyone clapped. He saw Gwen smile pityingly at him from behind Gaius' proud smile.
The last thing Cassie remembered before the enchantment took hold was the gleaming dagger. She frantically looked over at the royal table but Arthur was alive and well, making her let go of the breath she was holding. She saw the woman, Mary she thought, psh herself up and throw the dagger with the force of a fighter, and saw Merlin slow down time just as he had with Gaius. For some reason, whenever he slowed time, she saw it like he would. She figured it was because she also had magic.
"You saved my boy's life. A debt must be repaid." Uther said gratefully to Merlin. But Merlin just acted as if he served him his wine.
"Oh, well…"
"Don't be so modest. You shall be rewarded." Uther said, and Cassie thought back to when he gave her her own chambers. 'He'd better not make me share with Merlin!' she thought mentally crossing her arms and stomping her foot. What, she could behave like a child when she wanted to, and she didn't actually do any of it in front of the Court.
"No, honestly, you don't have to, Your Highness," 'Okay, this is so much like when he thanked me that it's not even funny. Except for Merlin's obvious uncomfort, that is funny.'
"No, absolutely. This merits something quite special." 'Word for word, uncanny. Maybe Uther's really going to give him his own chambers' Cassie thought incredulously.
"Well…" Merlin said, giving in to enjoying his reward.
"You shall be awarded a position in the royal household. You shall be Prince Arthur's manservant." 'HAHAHA!' Cassie said, holding in her laughter, though Leon and Owaine both saw her shaking shoulders and guessed what it might be about.
"Poor Merlin." Owaine commented.
"Poor Merlin? Poor Arthur! The man can really chatter nonstop! It's quite impressive actually. He reminds me of the stable boy who talked to the horses all day long. I asked him what it was about one day, and he said that they enjoyed it when people treated them like friends, so he talked to them all day long. And then he talked to me for like three hours without break. It was rather quite impressive really, I've never managed to speak so long without taking a sip of water or something." she said, taking a breath to continue.
"I think you can, Cass." Owaine said, interrupting the ramblings of the girl with a peck on the cheek.
Once the feast was over, and everyone congratulated Merlin, Cassie and Owaine went up to Merlin and spoke with him as they walked to the Physician's Tower.
"Quick reflexes, Merlin." Owaine greeted, clapping him on the shoulder.
"Guess that means I can have my job back?" Cassie teased with a smile, loving how miserable he looked.
"Sure. You can have it back." Merlin said in a monotone.
"Oh, merlin, I was only joking." Cassie said in a soft voice, knowing when she was pushing too much. "Besides, I don't really fancy cleaning that leech tank again." she said, shuddering.
"You can definitely have it back, then." Merlin said, joking again.
They joked around all the way up to the Physician's Tower and said goodbye at the door to Gaius' chambers.
"Goodnight, Merlin. You'll need it if you've to wake Arthur up tomorrow." Cassie said, from the door.
"Goodnight, Cassie." Merlin called back, ignoring her jibe.
Cassie and Owaine walked the few steps left to her chamber hand-in-hand.
"Come on in." Cassie said as Owaine was opening the door.
"Thanks." Owaine said, letting her through and following behind.
When he closed the door he turned to her and asked with a serious expression;
"You made the chandelier fall, didn't you?"
"I tried. I think I managed to make it move a little before the enchantment got to me. Didn't hold my hands to my ears hard enough it seems." Cassie said, a little embarrassed at her lack of strength against the sorceress-and not really wanting to lie to him about Merlin being the one who saved Arthur.
"You risked getting caught to save Arthur?" he said worriedly.
"I would rather not get caught, but Arthur couldn't die. He's the heir to Camelot. I've seen what it does, and while I can't go back, I also can't let it happen. Not if I can help it." Cassie explained in a low voice, not wanting anyone to hear them.
"I suppose I understand. We do that too. The knights. It's an oath we swore to, and it's our honor to do so." (When I finished the episode, the chapter was pretty short, so I'm going to put in some fluff. I just love those two. )
"My brothers said something of the same thing, when they were named General." Cassie said smiling in nostalgia.
"It's getting late. I wanted to ask you before I left if you would like to come?"
"Go where?" Cassie asked confused.
"You don't remember? Pellinore wanted his son to be born on our lands. He and Ellie are traveling tomorrow morning." Owaine explained slowly.
"When did you tell me this?"
"Last night." Owaine said, amused.
"No, you didn't." Cassie said.
"Yes, I did." Owaine countered.
"Well, I don't remember. I was a bit flustered last night." Cassie said, blushing demurely.
"Remind me again, why were you flustered. I don't seem to remember." Owaine said, roping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him with a smile.
"I think you do remember why, Owaine. And to answer your earlier question, I would love to go with you." Cassie finished with a smile, leaning up on the tips of her toes to kiss the tall knight.
"What am I going to wear?!" she cried, breaking out of the kiss and worrying her lower lip.
"Clothes?" Owaine asked, confused at her question.
"No. I'm meeting my mother-in-law for the first time. What do I wear? It can't be anything too ostentatious, because then I come across as creida, y no puedo usar nada muy plano o sino quedo como si no me importara como visto. Y el color, no puede ser muy apagado, ni muy brillante…" Cassie started pacing back and forth while rambling in spanish.
"Darling, why don't you use something that you would have worn in Hispania? I'm sure you've dresses from then, and if last night is anything to go by, it'll be a success."
"You have to help me decide!" Cassie said, running up to her room and grabbing the dresses from her wardrobe before returning.
"You, my knight, are in for a long night. I'd get comfortable if I were you."
"Why did I say anything!" Owaine complained to himself as he took a seat and Cassie went behind the screen with her dresses.
"Heard that!" Cassie sing-songed while changing into her first dress of the night.
"How's this one?" Cassie asked, twirling in her pale pink satin dress with the bodice embroidered in simple beads.
"You look beautiful." Owaine said, already bored of this.
"Well, will your mother like it? And your sister, what will they think?"
"Of course they'll like it." Owaine said.
"Next one, then." Cassie said and changed into a lavender silk dress with sheer sleeves and a copper belt. She tried on four more dresses before she tired of Owaine's vague, unhelpful answers.
"Owaine, this is important! First impressions generally are!"
"Well, the impression you made on me the first time I saw you was excellent. And you weren't wearing a fancy dress or makeup. You were just you. And I love you. So will they." Owaine said going over and placing a chaste kiss on her lips.
"But I want to look nice to meet your mother!" Cassie said stubbornly, turning to try on another dress.
"Why do I even try!" Owaine said, throwing his hands up and going back to the chair.
"Owaine, can you help the laces, I think- I think I tied them too tight." Cassie called from behind the screen, trying to tug the laces loose.
"S-sure. I'll help you." Owaine said nervously, getting up and walking towards the screen.
"You definitely tied it too tight, Cass." he said when he began undoing the laces.
He purposely undid them slowly, relishing the moment he had with her, wanting more, but not pushing. He had finished untying the knot and was now loosening the ribbons slowly, looking at her through lustful eyes she couldn't see. He grazed his fingers along the warm skin of her back as he moved on to the untie the next laces. He moved tantalizingly slow as he trailed his fingers up, loving the shiver he elicited. Looking at the vein in her neck made him lower himself until he could feel the warmth radiating from her shoulders, he let out a hot breath before closing the gap and kissing her neck.
"Owaine!" Cassie moaned, moving her hand up to hold his head to her neck as he kissed her wantonly, sucking the tender skin like he could never get enough. The moment his fingers touched her back she wanted him. Almost as much as she had last night. The electricity she felt every time they were near each other was overwhelming; and this electricity was making her want him to take off her dress and take her then and there.
She turned around slowly, keeping his mouth exactly where it was as she did. When she was flush against his chest, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and moved his mouth to hers, kissing him deeply and without restraint. They kissed fervently for what felt like forever, but was really only fifteen minutes, before they broke apart. The laces now completely undone, Cassie slipped the dress off her shoulders and down to the floor before she led Owaine up to her room by the hand. Owaine took the oportunity to slip his shirt and jacket off his. They were halfway up the stairs when there was a knock on the door.
"Every time! Wait for me in my room, my knight. " Cassie said softly, rolling her eyes and donning a dressing gown.
"Ellie! Come in, sorry for the mess, I was trying to decide what to wear for tomorrow. I'll be going with you and Pellinore to meet Morrigan." Cassie explained all the dresses in the main room.
"I'm glad you're coming with us, Cassie." Ellie said smiling. "I was wondering if you could check me over. I'm having some spotting." she said with a wavering voice.
"Here, lay down while I check." Cassie told her gently. After she lay down on the cot and Cassie had her lift her legs for better examination, she made sure that Ellie couldn't see her eyes and used her magic to feel for the familiar life force she had been feeling in her future sister's womb since she got pregnant.
"Have you been hav- maki- have you and Pell been together recently, before the bleeding?" Cassie asked shyly, knowing that the baby was okay.
"Y-Yes." she answered bashfully, blushing.
"Your baby's fine, so far as I can tell. It's completely normal, or so Gaius says, to experience some bleeding when you have…" Cassie told her, trailing off at the end.
"Is it dangerous? To my child?"
"I would stop, what with being due in just a couple of months. But neither you nor Pellinore have done any harm to your child, Ellie. From my research and what I've seen these months, you'll be fine." Cassie told her compassionately, as Ellie righted herself and resettled her skirts about her.
"Thank you, Cassie. Truly, I don't know if I would have told Gaius about this, I would have been too embarrassed to say anything."
"I completely understand, Ellie. Thank you for trusting me with this."
"Good night, Cassie. Say goodnight to Owaine as well." she said softly, looking knowingly at where Owaine's shirt and jacket lay and making the young physician blush deeply.
"Goodnight, Ellie." Cassie said, walking the Lady to the door and opening it for her.
She turned around and saw Owaine picking up his discarded shirt and jacket.
"Everything okay with Ellie and the baby?" he asked while he put his clothes on.
"Yes, they're both fine." Cassie said, knowing they would not be doing anything tonight.
"How do you know?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"My magic. I've found that everyone has a feel to them. Or a color, or whatever. You, for example, have a strong soul, and a brave heart." Cassie said, hugging him and giving him a kiss. "But my magic feels you in a light blue. Your niece or nephew is going to be stubborn and kind, with a bright yellow feel. It's really hard to explain actually. I don't really see the color, and I tend to guess at what it means. But the way the baby kicks, definitely playful. And from what Ellie says she tells her belly when the baby kicks, stubborn."
"What does the King feel like? And Arthur, and Morgana?" Owaine asked, extremely curious.
"Uther is a dark grey, strong, but cold. Arthur is gold and Morgana is deep purple." Cassie listed.
"And Gaius and Merlin?"
"Gaius is yellow, and Merlin is a dark, almost navy blue. Why such curiosity?" Cassie asked, amused.
"Just am," he shrugged. "How long have you been able to do it?"
"Since I was a child. I used to love looking at everyone's colors. I never found one to be exactly the same as the other. I don't do it much now because my eyes would be gold, and it's clear what happens then…" she said, trailing off at the end.
"Yeah, you're right. Goodnight, my Lady, my love." he said, bowing and kissing her hand.
"Goodnight, my brave knight." Cassie replied, reaching up and kissing him chastely on the lips.
"You, uh, might want to use your makeup to cover your neck tomorrow." he said, taking his hands to his neck. "I-I may have left a love bite."
"What!" Cassie cried in horror as she moved to look in her mirror in her room. "Owaine!" she half-yelled, half-whispered (because of the hour); but when she went back to the outer chamber, he was gone.
Post chapter A/N I wanted Merlin to make the decision himself to save Arthur. Not Cassie tell him to or stand next to him and help. It was pretty hard for me to get it to this point, but I finally did! I know, I'm evil! I wanted them to get together, I did. But it just wasn't the right time. Honestly, I don't know if they can wait until there's a ring on her finger, I kinda don't want them to, but being raised Catholic, or at least in a Catholic household, Cassie's not about to give her virtue away while she's unwed. I just love those two. Hope you liked it, Review if you did, review if you didn't. Review even if it was just meh.