Chapter 83 I don't own Merlin, hope you like, read, review, I live and breathe for them…. Even though I don't have that many. Yes, that was a very direct indirect.
Cassie awoke just before the sun rose, closing her eyes sadly when she remembered that it was just a dream. That her whole heart was gone and she was betraying him with her feelings.
"I suppose I must get on with the day." Cassie mumbled to the empty room, standing up and smoothing out her dress magically and donning her mantilla with a heavy sigh.
"Cassie! What are you doing up so early?" Merlin asked as he spotted her walking down the stairs of the physician's tower.
"Gathering herbs. I've run out of the pain potion and there's a few women in the lower town who need the monthly perinatal potion." Cassie answered stiffly, regretting it and looking down at the floor with a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for, Merlin."
"Bygones. Want some company?" he told her with a wide smile and a dismissive wave of his hand.
"I would love some, thank you." Cassie replied, trying not to force her smile too much.
"Morgana tells me you've forgiven her and Gwen." he continued, walking down beside her.
"I haven't forgotten, Merlin. Any of it. But I'm trying to. I don't want to be alone, you're my family. I can't lose you because I'm stubborn and pigheaded."
"I wouldn't say stubborn. I would say pigheaded." Merlin joked, bumping her shoulder and eliciting a short laugh.
"So what are you doing up so early?"
"My job." Merlin stated, lifting the bucket as explanation.
"You? Do your job, that's unheard of, Merlin." Cassie joked lamely.
"Almost as unheard of as you doing your own." Merlin retorted as they walked over to the water pump.
"Excuse me, I actually do my job!" Cassie said in affront.
"Yes, but not the gathering. Or distributing. Only the talking."
"The same could be said of you, my fine-feathered friend!"
"Oh you wish! These fine feathers don't belong to you, my Lady."
"Oh? Which Lady do they belong to, then?" Cassie teased back, her smile wide and genuine for the first time in a while as she found herself bantering easily with him.
"They belong to- Mother?" Merlin asked when he spotted her, completely forgetting about Cassie's presence and dropping the bucket of water.
"Merlin!" she gasped happily, running up to him to hug him, but stopping as Merlin noticed the big bruise on her right eye.
"What happened? Who did this to you?!" he demanded, looking worriedly at her and examining her face.
"Come, I'll tell you inside. I wish to see Gaius, it's been far too long." Hunith said, taking her son's hand and squeezing it gently.
"Go ahead and gather the herbs, Cassie. I'll see you later." Merlin said, taking the bucket from Cassie's hands
"Yes, of course. Do you need anything?" Cassie asked him, her eyes serious.
"No, thanks." Merlin said, nodding at her and walking towards the castle with his mother by his side.
"Gaius!" Hunith cried happily as she walked through the doors into his chambers.
"Hunth! What are you doing here? How are you!" Gaus asked just as happily when he heard her call out his name, turning around and looking surprised at the bruise under her eye.
"It's a long story." she answered him, accepting a chair and a goblet of water with a thankful smile.
"We're listening." Merlin said, sitting down across from her and taking her free hand in his with worry.
"You remember Kanen, the brute who used to come to our village every harvest?" Hunith asked Merlin, watching as his eyes darkened in response.
"I thought he'd gone for good." Merlin said.
"He left. For two years. He's back now. It's all our food, our livelihood that he's taking. We wouldn't survive if he'd taken everything. So I told him that. And he struck me."
"You're a brave woman, my dear, but that was foolish. You're lucky strike you was all he did." Gaius told her disapprovingly.
"I'll talk to Arthur. See if he can't get us an audience with the King." Merlin said, standing up and kissing his mother on the cheek. "I'll be back soon."
"Thank you, Merlin." she said, stopping him with a gentle hand and standing up to meet his eyes. "I'm proud of you."
"Yeah, I know. You've said so at least thrice since we walked into the castle." he said with a smile, kissing her once more. "I really have to go, it's best to get Arthur in a good mood, and if I'm late with breakfast he'll be anything but."
"Go, my son."
"Yes, mother."
"Gaius, I didn't know if you needed any more herbs, but I gathered some extra just in case." Cassie said as she walked into his room after a brief knock on the door, basket full and heavy in hand.
"Thank you, Cassie. I was running low on yarrow." Gaius responded, gratefully taking the herbs wrapped in cloth from her and placing them on the worktop. "You met my sister, Hunith?"
"Briefly. It's a pleasure." Cassie said, smiling politely at her before remembering she was wearing her mantilla and Hunith couldn't see it so she held out her hand.
"Pleasure's all mine, Merlin's written me about you. I must say I pictured you differently."
"Don't let her kind disposition fool you. She's worse than Merlin."
"I should go, I have some potions to prepare and distribute in the lower town. Excuse me." Casse said, taking the considerably lighter basket and leaving the room quickly.
"Merlin said she was quite talkative and friendly." Hunith said as she looked at the door.
"She usually is. More talkative even than Merlin." Gaius told her as he separated the herbs from each other. "She's just lost her husband. And child. She's grieving."
"Oh." Hunith said sadly.
"Yeah, I truly hope time will heal her. She managed to maintain an innocent soul after all she'd seen in her homeland. It would be a shame for her to let this loss affect her so."
"From what Merlin has told me, she's a strong person. If she's half the strength Merlin says she does, she'll be fine." Hunith told him.
"Yes, she will be. Would you mind helping me with these while Merlin speaks with Prince Arthur?" Gaius asked, handing her some herbs while he set some out to dry.
"There's to be a council meeting in an hour, Cassie. Arthur's managed to get an audience with the King in front of the Court." Merlin told her, popping his head in as she was finishing her potions.
"Do you really think he'll help?" Cassie couldn't help but blurt out over the boiling cauldron.
"I'm sorry?" Merlin asked, taken aback at her outburst.
"Uther. He's proven to put his kingdom and his laws over anything. Ealdor lies beyond his reach." Cassie clarified.
"It can't hurt to ask. And we've got Arthur speaking to him on our behalf as well. Maybe he'll surprise you. He was willing to put his life on the line for Arthur."
"Arthur is his son and heir. There's a big difference." Cassie said with jaded eyes, her mantilla folded neatly on one of the chairs.
"I liked you better before. When you were optimistic, not this jaded girl." Merlin scoffed after a shake of his head.
"Woman. I haven't been a girl since I saw my family slaughtered! Owaine's and my child's death is Uther's fault. Forgive me if I can hardly sympathise with him." Cassie corrected him, glaring harshly.
"It's Nimueh's fault! She's the one who summoned the wraith, not Uther." Merlin told her passionately.
"Think what you want, Merlin. I've never been particularly fond of the King." Cassie said dully, turning back to the potion and taking it off the fire to cool. "I don't know why you, of all people, think of him that way."
"You hate him?" Merlin asked her, trying to gauge her reaction.
"I should. I have every right and every reason to hate him. But I don't. For some reason, I don't." Cassie answered quietly, turning her back to Merlin and wiping the tears off her face.
"Yes, you have every right to." Merlin said, walking to her and turning her around gently. "It's big of you that you don't. It shows your true character, Cassie. It shows just how good a person you truly are." he said, hugging her close to him and kissing the top of her head. "You don't deserve anything that's happened to you."
"When did you get so wise?" she mumbled into his chest, glad he was there for her and letting her arms wrap around him tightly.
"Who said I was wise?" Merlin teased back, ruffling her hair and pulling away. "I should go tell my mother. Will you be at Court today?"
"I wouldn't miss it. But Merlin… tell her not to get her hopes up. As King, he won't do anything."
"Hope is what keeps the world turning, Cassie."
"It was only a few weeks I was gone, suddenly you're philosophical and wise. Perhaps time away from me is what you need to fulfil your destiny." Cassie quipped, pretending not to notice how quickly he stiffened at that.
"And what destiny is that?" he asked tightly, his smile plastered on his face to hide his nervousness.
"Court fool." Cassie answered, not needing to hide her hurt at his mistrust.
"Oh, ha ha." he said sarcastically, his relief palpable.
"Go on, tell your mother. These need to cool before they can be bottled and distributed. And I need to change for Court." Cassie said, ushering him out and leaning against the door and hating how good she was at lying her way out of everything. She walked over and muttered the spell for the potion, letting her magic imbue each and every particle fully: "Forþecce þæs cwiþes, áféde þæs ċildes ond þæs byrðran."
She watched the liquid in the cauldron glow green before it reverted back to normal and bottled them all. She went up to her bedchamber and quickly changed into a more courtly dress, adjusting her mantilla over her face and walking through the castle with her head held high until she reached the throne room with some of the other nobles, greeting the Ladies politely and walking in to stand where she usually stood beside her husband, only to use her magic quickly to stifle the sob that escaped and retain her composure in front of everyone.
"Court is in session!" the herald called as Arthur, Morgana and Uther walked in and took their places.
"Father, this is Hunith from Ealdor, she's come to speak on her village's behalf." Arthur introduced.
"You may proceed." Uther said, nodding and leaning back on his throne.
"My Lord, I have come to seek your help. There's a bandit named Kanen. He's been attacking our village and the ones near us for years. Taking our food, our harvest. The winters are harsh in Ealdor, and there are many children. Some of them just won't be strong enough to survive. We barely have enough food as it is, and if Kanen takes our harvest, our children won't live to see another summer. Please, we need your help." she said beseechingly as she stood in front of him
"Ealdor's in Cenred's kingdom. Your safety is his responsibility." Uther said pensively, carefully considering his words before speaking while everyone's eyes were on him.
"We've appealed to our King, but he cares little for the outlying regions." Hunith answered, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. "You're our only hope." she added, her heart pounding nervously.
"I have the deepest sympathy for you and would have this barbarian wiped off the face of the earth." Uther said, leaning forward and lacing his fingers together.
"You'll help us?" Hunith asked with hopeful eyes.
"I wish I could." Uther answered, turning to face his son as he spoke, his hand going up to his chin to appear pensive.
"Surely we could spare a few men?" Arthur asked him respectfully.
"Resources are not the problem." Uther replied, leaning back completely and taking a few subtle breaths.
"Then what is?" Morgana demanded, barely containing her anger.
"Ealdor lies beyond the Ridge of Essetir. For an army of Camelot to enter it would be an act of war." he answered, looking out at the Court so they would understand his reasoning.
"I know you're a good king, a caring man. I'm begging you, help us, please." Hunith pleaded, dropping to her knees as a last resort as her hope all disappeared.
"The accord we've struck with Cenred was years in the making." Uther answered firmly. "I cannot risk hundreds of lives for the sake of one village. I'm afraid Camelot cannot help." he said with such finality that everyone in the room knew there was nothing more to be said. He looked away as Morgana glared reproachfully at him, stepping forward and kindly helping Hunith to her feet and escorting her out, her heels clicking. The rest of the room stayed silent until the two women had left and were dismissed quickly by the court herald.
"Merlin!" Cassie called, running after him while he angrily stalked towards where Arthur had gone.
"What?" he asked exasperatedly.
"I thought I told you not to get your hopes up. His hands are tied. Not a person bearing Camelot's crest can cross the border without it being a declaration of war."
"If you knew, why didn't you-" Merlin began angrily.
"I did tell you, Merlin. You just didn't want to listen. You can't blame Arthur for this. Unfortunately, it's state politics that Uther's dealing. He's- he's guilty of many things, but at least he cares for his people. Some of them at least." Cassie told him lowly, her hand gripping his arm tightly preventing him from leaving.
"Fine. You're right. I'll cool off before I speak with Arthur." Merlin said, his lips pursed tightly as he nodded and turned the other way, back to his and Gaius' chambers.
"Hard to believe." Cassie said, joining Arthur as he stared pensively out at the city.
"Hard to believe what?" he asked slightly angrily. "That my father doesn't care!?"
"That even the smallest decision affects so many people." Cassie corrected softly, pulling the mantilla over her head and looking up at Arthur with a soft gaze. "I know how difficult it is to make such a decision, my brother spent many hours doing as you are, considering the fate of ever-"
"My Lord, the King wishes to speak with you this evening before dinner."
"Yes." Arthur nodded, dismissing the guard with a simple nod.
"It would help if you were more courteous to them." Cassie said, rolling her eyes and giving up trying to tell him anything.
"I am courteous. They know how important they are to this kingdom." he said with a deep breath. "If it were up to me I-"
"Arthur! If it were up to you, no matter what, you wouldn't risk violating an accord. You wouldn't send Knights of Camelot across the border." Cassie told him.
"I wouldn't do nothing!" Arthur said, looking at her disbelievingly as if he were meeting her for the first time. "Is that really what you think of me?"
"No." Cassie said with a short scoff. "You'd be cunning. You'd figure out a way to help the people without declaring war!"
"What are you getting at, Cassie?" Arthur asked her exasperatedly.
"You have a long way to go, my Lord. You may be well versed in war theory and stratagems, but you lack subtlety. Subterfuge. Your way works in open battle, but you need to make sure you learn to be more secretive and cunning. Sometimes a covert battle plan is just as effective and much less deadly than such an open display of bravery and skill." Cassie told him with a tired sigh, her secretive tone belaying her words.
"Where is this coming from, Cassie?"
"Just advice for you to ponder, Prince Arthur. Cunning and stealth are just as important as sinew and sword." Cassie told him, lowering the veil and leaving without another word.
"What was she trying to say?" Arthur mumbled to himself, turning back to look over his city in deep thought. Moments later Merlin walked up to him and put his hands on the balustrade.
"I'm sorry." Arthur said in greeting, his arms crossed over his chest. "If it were up to me we'd be on our way now."
"You tried. And thank you for getting an audience with the King." Merlin said, turning to face him.
"I wish that Camelot was able to help people regardless of how far away they lived."
"I know you can't. It would mean war, your father would never have risked the lives of your people. It's a sound decision. According to Cassie, at least." Merlin told him sincerely, taking a deep breath and looking out over the city before turning back to him. "I'm going to Ealdor."
"Of course." Arthur said, knowing it was coming.
"It's been an honour serving you." Merlin said sincerely, looking beseechingly at Arthur.
"You'll be coming back." Arthur said, turning to him in confusion.
"She's my mother. I've got to look after her before anyone else. You understand?" Merlin told him with a brotherly smile while Arthur turned back to look out.
"I'd do exactly the same." Arthur conceded, looking at Merlin carefully. "Well, you've been terrible. Really, I mean it. The worst servant I've ever had."
"Thank you, Sire." Merlin told him with a wide smile, turning to leave now that he'd gotten Arthur's blessing.
"Merlin." Arthur said, stopping him from going any further. "Good luck."
"Thank you, Arthur." Merlin said once more, nodding his thanks and leaving him alone to look out at the city in thought.
"Gaius." Cassie said as she walked through the door and found him preparing some food. "Would yo- could you please give the potions out to these women? I've got their names written down, and there is no payment needed. I know some might insist, but don't accept it. They need the money more than I." Cassie asked him shyly, placing the vials in her bag on the table and the bit of parchment next to it.
"Of course! But why?"
"I've decided to go to Ealdor with Merlin. He can't fight, and he needs all the help. I know how to fight, I can help." she said logically.
"It's noble of you, my Lady." Gaius said with respect and admiration. "Be careful out there."
"I will, Gaius. Thank you for everything you've done for me."
"It is I who should be thanking you, Cassie. I was a lonely old man until you came along and talked the lonely out of me. Then came Merlin, and between the two of you, I don't think I've had a moment of silence since. I welcome the respite." he said jokingly, hugging her and smiling down at her. "Take care of yourself. And him."
"I will, Gaius." Cassie said, kissing him on the cheek and walking down to the square where she found Morgana donned in her riding pants and tunic. "Morgana?"
"We've had the same idea, I see." she greeted her, noticing the sword tied to her hip.
"Yeah. Are you sure you should come? Wouldn't Uther be angry?"
"Let him be angry. Merlin's my friend and his village is in danger. I would do it for any one of you."
"We both know he's more than your friend, Morgana." Cassie said quietly as she prepared the horses.
"Yeah, there's added benefits to being his friend that I don't have with any of my other friends. Nor would I want them." Morgana told her.
"If you say so. Is Gwen coming?" Cassie said, dropping the subject.
"Yes, she's giving Merlin a sword and some armour right now. I don't think he'd know what to do with half of it if we weren't coming along." Morgana said, stopping Cassie from finishing saddling her horse and dragging her away from the stables.
"Give him some credit, he can take care of himself and his village without us." Cassie said, choosing not to comment on being dragged away.
"You really think that?" Morgana asked, pausing slightly before continuing across the square.
"Yeah. He's stronger than he'd have us believe."
"Funny. He said the same of you." Morgana told her, opening the door to Gwen's house and stepping in.
"I won't be able to carry all that." Merlin said.
"You won't have to. We're coming with you." Morgana said with finality.
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked, looking into her eyes deeply before looking back at Gwen.
"You're going to need all the help you can get, I can mend armour and sharpen swords." Gwen said as Morgana had taken too long to answer.
"And I can fight." Morgana said, not looking away from him as he floundered slightly.
"But y-y- you can't. I mean, why would you?" Merlin asked quickly.
"If it was the other way around, you'd help us. You already have. You saved my life." Gwen said, looking up at him.
"And you helped me get the Druid boy out of Camelot. We owe it to you. Both of us." Morgana said, smiling at him softly as she told him with her eyes the other reason she was doing it.
"I have nothing better to do, other than wallow. Maybe hitting someone would help me." Cassie piped in, making Merlin break eye contact with Morgana to look at her strangely, her voice bitter at the reminder of their betrayal. "It was a joke, I was joking, for the most part. I'm going because you're my friend. If I learned anything from Owaine it's to stay by the people I love." Cassie said with a slight roll of her eyes.
"Oh. Gonna be hard to fight with that veil on, don't you think?" he asked, pointing at the veil with the sword.
"The mantilla is staying, I'm going. My grief can wait for a friend. A brother." Cassie told him, biting back the tears in her eyes.
"Thank you, Cassie. All of you, thank you. I really appreciate this." Merlin said, looking at each woman in turn.
"Gaius is expecting you." Cassie told him, handing him her mantilla and squeezing his hand.
"You're going in a dress?" he said, letting go of her hand and picking up the mantilla that had fallen through his fingers onto the floor.
"Well, we're not fighting tonight, besides, I've got a change of clothes for tomorrow. It's all I need." Cassie said, omitting that she'd just put the trunk of her belongings into the trunk around her neck magically when she'd first gotten back, being unable to unpack anything and stubbing her toe pretty hard the first day the trunk lay open in her Midwife chambers.
"Right. Look, are you all completely sure about this?"
"Absolutely"
"Yes,"
"Who else can I fight?" they all said at the same time.
"Thank you." he said once more before going towards the physicians tower and leaving them there.
"You don't mind me leaving this here, do you Gwen?" Cassie asked, folding her mantilla neatly and placing it on the table.
"Of course not!" Gwen said brightly, grunting slightly as she gathered the bag over her shoulder and walked out the door towards the stables.
"Have you told her? About you and Merlin?" Cassie asked quietly as she followed Morgana out the door seconds later.
"No. I haven't. I'm still not sure how she'd react."
"Leon and I-we…never mind." Cassie started to tell her quietly as they walked, shaking her head when she decided against saying anything.
"He likes you and you don't know how you feel about him?" Morgana told her gently, a knowing look in her eye.
"I kissed him last night." Cassie told her quickly before she lost her nerve.
"You kissed him? What are you feeling right now?" Morgana asked her softly, stopping in the middle of the square and turning to face her.
"Guilt. Grief. Shame." Cassie answered, looking down at the floor and walking away.
"For what? For wanting to be happy?" Morgan asked as she quickly caught up to her.
"He just died, 'Gana. Owaine's not even cold and I'm already developing...feelings for someone else. I don't even know what I'm feeling." Cassie answered as they got to the stables and found Gwen and Hunith speaking as they saddled the horses.
"You're feeling alone, Cassie. Besides, Sir Leon is a good man, it may not be obvious to others, but he has feelings for you. What you need is time to get your head together, to let your heart heal." Morgana said, stopping just short of them and speaking sincerely. "You might have feelings for him. You might not. Time is the only way to tell."
"What if I don't? What if I hurt him because I don't feel the same way he does?"
"It's a risk, Cassie. You have to decide if you're willing to take the risk. Sir Leon's strong-willed, it won't hurt him as much as you'd think. I know it goes against your essence, but you have to think of yourself. Not him, not Owaine, not anyone else. Just you."
"I don't think I know how to do that." Cassie told her quietly as Merlin walked into view laden down with a few bags.
"Ready?" he asked them as they got near.
"Yeah, 'course. Just waiting on you." Morgana said quickly, blushing slightly at his answering smile and following Cassie to one of the horses.
"How long will it take to get there?" Cassie asked softly, mounting the horse in one fluid motion and waiting for everyone else to do so.
"Two days at most. Depends how fast we move. You can stay if you want to. I won't think any less of you." Merlin told her, looking at her seriously.
"Forget it, Merlin. I need to whack something and the training dummies get beaten enough by Arthur." Cassie told him teasingly, kicking forward and galloping towards the city gates.
"Cassie! You're going the wrong way!" Merlin called after her, urging the horse forward and following her. "We go east, not north."
"Forgive me, Merlin." Cassie said with a roll of her eyes, motioning for him to lead and taking off beside him.
"So what's it like in Ealdor? I've never lived in a small village." Cassie asked conversationally as they trotted, she and Merlin chattering away to make the time go by quicker.
"These woods are dangerous, bandits everywhere. You must be quiet, my Lady." Hunith said a couple hours later, quieting the two up.
"Yes, Hunith." Cassie said, looking down at her saddle obediently and following in quiet contemplation, thinking of what Morgana had told her before they set off.
"Dinner was delicious, thank you, Hunith." Cassie said politely, smiling and taking everyone's plates to wash as Morgana and Gwen went to lie down on their mats.
"Oh, you don't have to do that, Cass. I can wash them myself."
"It's fine, Merlin. Be back quickly." Cassie told him with a shake of her head, disappearing through the bush and muttering a quick incantation under her breath, suspecting Merlin did something of the sort whenever he had to wash the plates.
"Thanks, Cass." Merlin said once she came back and handed him the plates.
"Like I said, no problem." Cassie told him simply, sitting by the fire with him in companionable silence while Morgana and Gwen got ready to sleep.
"What are you thinking of?" he asked softly after a few minutes' silence.
"Just hoping someone got the hint I gave them." Cassie answered him vaguely.
"Who?" Merlin asked in confusion.
"It's not important." Cassie said with a shake of her head, going back to the silence they'd shared previously as his mother went to sit next to her son.
"My Lady, I want to thank you for coming with us." she started with a kind smile. "You're taking a big risk."
"It's the risk I should have taken years ago for my own people." Cassie answered with a sad shake of her head.
"It's still brave of you." she continued, glancing at Merlin momentarily.
"I've learned I have more cowardice than bravery in me, Hunith. Your son's the one who's truly brave." Cassie told her instead.
"I'm not that brave." he told her with a smile.
"I think going to Camelot all alone was rather brave." Cassie told him.
"You did the same." he pointed out.
"No, I ran away and wound up in Camelot. By pure happenstance, you sought it out."
"Is there something you'd like to tell us?" Hunith asked her, catching on to what she was trying to convey.
"Many things. But like I said, I'm no brave person. It's hard for me to do." she answered softly, standing up and wiping away a tear.
"You don't have to do this alone, Cass. We are friends." Merlin told her, looking at her worriedly.
"I know. Goodnight, Merlin. Hunith." Cassie said, kissing both of them on the cheek before going to where her sleeping blanket was laid out and lying down.
"She's hiding something, Merlin." Hunith told him after a while watching as the other girls' breathing slowed.
"I know. I just can't figure out what." Merlin said, watching as Cassie's shoulders rose and fell calmly.
"They shouldn't be here. Especially the Lady Morgana. Isn't she the King's ward?" she asked softly, looking at him worriedly.
"Not that you'd know it." Merlin answered with a fond smile, thinking of how kind and humble she was. "She's the only person I know who isn't frightened of him."
"It won't make any difference to Kanen that they're women." Hunith told him carefully.
"I know. But I couldn't talk them out of coming." Merlin whispered back, staring into the fire before looking closely at his mother as she looked towards the three sleeping figures. "I'm going to make him pay for what he did to you." he said firmly, reaching up to touch the bruise under his mother's eye.
"Promise me you'll be careful. No one can find out about you." she whispered passionately, looking into his eyes to make sure he understood the gravity of everything.
"They won't. They never do." Merlin told her reassuringly, smiling as she kissed his temple and rubbed his arms lovingly.
"Get some rest." she told him softly, standing up and going over to sleep as he picked up a smouldering twig and blew on it, sending the sparks flying into the air.
"Draca." he whispered, watching melancholically as the embers turned into the Pendragon dragon and dropping the stick back into the fire.
He tossed and turned all night, worrying about the days to come when he heard hoofbeats approach in the silent night. He clumsily reached for the sword and snuck away to investigate, turning nervously this way and that before freezing on the spot as he felt the tip of a sword dig into his back.
"I'd ask you for money, but I know you don't have any." he heard a familiar voice say, relief flooding his body.
"Arthur!" Merlin cried happily as he turned around with the sword raised, Arthur ducking quickly as it flew right where his head had been.
"Put the sword down, Merlin. You look ridiculous." Arthur mumbled as he stalked back towards the camp, taking the sword with him.
"Gee, thanks." Merlin mumbled to himself with a smile, following after him and stoking the fire to get it blazing once more.
"How much further is it?" Arthur asked as he watched the flames burn brightly.
"Er, maybe a few hours." Merlin answered.
"How many men does Kanen have?" Arthur asked, nonplussed by Merlin's answer.
"Erm, I'm not sure. I think, from what my mother said, maybe as many as forty." he replied slowly.
You should get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow." Arthur told him stoking the fire absently.
"Thank you. Erm, I know you didn't have to come." Merlin said as he nervously fiddled with his hands.
"Get some sleep." Arthur told him, standing up and grabbing his pallet to lay out.
"I knew you'd catch on eventually." Cassie greeted the following morning as Arthur roused and got up.
"Yeah, when did you get so...wise?" he asked her in a low voice.
"Observing my brothers." Cassie answered, glad that everyone had already packed everything up and were mounting their steeds.
"Right, they were generals." he said, remembering their conversation from months earlier. "Just out of curiosity, it's not the one who got drunk and dressed as a maid, is it?"
"No." Cassie said with a giggle, remembering fondly that feast.
"It's only a few more hours, my Lord." Hunith said respectfully, as the two blondes walked up to their horses.
"Right, we should make haste. No dawdling, Cassie." Arthur said, glad that she was smiling at last and teasing her to keep it up.
"Says the pampered prince who woke up last of all of us." Cassie replied with a roll of her eyes.
"All right, then." Arthur said, taking off at a gallop and leading them all towards the border with Essetir.
"No!" one of the villagers yelled moments before Arthur threw his dagger in front of Kanen's face, drawing his attention away from another man on the ground and dismounting quickly, sword in hand.
"Kill them!" Kanen commanded, fighting Arthur as the others reached the village and quickly dismounted with unsheathed swords.
Cassie made quick work of a rather rotund bandit who went after her, his putrid breath making her nauseous as she disarmed him and knocked him over the head with the butt of his sword, running over to another lanky bandit trying to take off with a young village girl.
"Come fight, you coward!" she taunted him, throwing her dagger at his leg and pulling the girl free from his grasp. "Run!"
"Big mistake, beautiful. You're mine now."
"Wrong choice of words, gilipollas!" Cassie told him, meeting each of his attacks with a simple flick of her sword, the foreign fighting style taking the bandit by surprise and sweeping him off his legs before stabbing his side shallowly, grabbing her dagger and turning to find another bandit to fight, only to see them retreating.
"You will pay for this with your lives!" Kanen shouted as he mounted his horse. "All of you!"
"Are you okay? Let me see the wound." Cassie said kindly as she walked up to the girl she'd saved and lifted the skirt up to the mid thigh.
"Y-yes, thank you." she said in a slightly shaken voice, clutching her bleeding leg.
"Come, I can stitch it up." Cassie said softly, helping her up and walking back towards the village with her.
"Thank you, my Lady." the girl's father said, nodding his head in thanks after she'd finished and hugging his daughter as Cassie smiled and left them alone.
"Look, I thought I told you we don't want your kind around here." Cassie heard a village boy around her age say as she neared him and Merlin.
"I miss you too, Will." Merlin said with a wide smile, hugging him and spotting Cassie over his shoulder.
"And you think I'm weird?" Cassie said, rolling her eyes and shaking her head as she walked around them and went towards Gwen and Morgana.
"You are weird, Cassie." Merlin called back before turning to his old friend and continuing their discussion.
"You know, I've never actually seen you fight. It's interesting." Arthur said as he stuck his sword in the ground and looked around.
"Anytime, Arthur. I'll show you how easily I can best you." Cassie told him with a smirk as he spotted Merlin.
"Merlin! Gather the villagers, I need to talk to them." Arthur commanded.
"Yeah, in a minute. I'm just talking…" Merlin said, rolling his eyes as Arthur ordered him again.
"Now, Merlin. There isn't much time."
"Yes, Sire." Merlin said, sighing heavily and making his rounds quickly.
"I know Kanen's kind." Arthur started, standing on the steps of the stone well to speak to everyone. "He'll be back. And when he is, you must be ready for him. First of all we have to prepare for-" Arthur said with his air of authority, everyone's gaze trained solely on him.
"Am I the only one wondering who the hell this is?" the boy Merlin had been speaking with interrupted, walking through the crowd of villagers to the front and demanding an answer from Arthur.
"I am Prince Arthur of Camelot." he answered.
"Yeah, and, er, I'm Prince William of Ealdor." the boy answered with a scoff.
"Keep quiet. He's here to help us." Hunith reprimanded with a firm look.
"But he's made things worse. Kanen will be back, and when he is, he'll be looking for revenge. You've just signed our death warrants." Will said passionately, looking from Hunith to the villagers and up at Arthur as he did so.
"He saved Matthew's life!" Hunith said emphatically.
"That's alright, Hunith. This is his village. What would you have us do?" Arthur asked, looking right at him and watching as he thought on the spot.
"We can't fight against Kanen, he has too many men." Will started, pausing pensively.
"So what's the alternative?" Arthur asked, giving him a chance to answer what he thought was best.
"Give him what he wants." Will said discontentedly, expecting his neighbours reactions and their shaking heads.
"Then what? Those of you who don't starve to death will face him again next harvest! And the one after that." Arthur rebutted to the other's nods.
"We'll manage. We'll survive." Will told them all, getting a single question from every villager there: "How?"
"The only way he can be stopped is if you stand up to him." Arthur said, looking him steadfastly in his eyes.
"No. You just want the honour and glory of battle. That's what drives men like you." Will replied, keeping his gaze on the prince. "Look, if you want to fight, then go home and risk the lives of your own people, not ours!" he finished fervently, walking away before Arthur could get another word in and ignoring Merlin as he called after him.
"I'll follow you. If I'm to die, then I want to go out fighting." Hunith declared, looking around as Matthew and the other villagers followed her example and agreed to fight for their homes.
"How good do you think they are?" Cassie asked Gwen in a worried undertone as the villagers rallied around Arthur.
"Doubtful they're very good." Gwen replied just as quietly, catching Arthur's eye and giving him a proud smile.
"It's not much, but it's home." Hunith said as she led them all into her small hut and started on a small dinner for them.
"It's lovely, Hunith." Gwen and Morgana said kindly.
"Let me help. I can go out and catch a hare or something. Perhaps we can give the leftovers to one of your neighbours." Cassie suggested as she watched Hunith go around the small kitchen and prepare a measly porridge.
"That's very kind, Cassie. But I doubt you'll find anything after Kanen and his men made so much noise this afternoon." Hunith told her.
"Yes, of course, you're right. Is there anything else we can do to help?"
"Just you all being here is help enough." she said gratefully, watching as Gwen and Merlin put up a sheet to divide the room with. "It's gonna be a bit crowded here tonight, I'm afraid. Prince Arthur and Merlin can sleep out here, the four of us in there." she continued, mashing something in a bowl before throwing the contents and some grain in a cauldron over the fire.
"I can sleep outside, I don't mind." Cassie offered.
"My Lady, please. I can't do much, but I can offer you some shelter. Especially considering you're here to help us." Hunith told her softly.
"Okay, thanks." Cassie said, noticing a pile of tattered fabric in the corner and going over to it. "Do you mind? Keeping my hands busy helps me keep my mind off... I, er, have some needles here, perhaps I can make it into a blanket or something."
"Of course not. If you manage to make anything out of those threads I'll replace Merlin with you." Hunith joked, smiling at her son.
"Hey!" Merlin cried out. "I take great offence to that! You like me much better than Cassie!"
"That's only because she doesn't know Cassie." Gwen said jokingly, laughing along with everyone else.
"Goodnight, everyone." Hunith said later that night, going to her straw bed and watching as everyone made their way to their own cots, Merlin and Arthur the farthest away.
"Goodnight, Hunith." the girls all said in unison, following her example and blowing out the candle they had and trying to get to sleep.
It was some while later, after the other women had fallen asleep that Cassie heard soft voices from the other side of the sheet. Her interest piqued, she muttered a quiet incantation, closing her eyes momentarily before opening them again. "Sprecaþ." (listen.)
"Have you always slept on the floor?" Arthur asked in a low voice so as not to wake up the others.
"Yeah, the bed I've got in Camelot is luxury compared to this." Merlin answered in a similar voice.
"Must have been hard." Arthur observed thoughtfully.
"Like rock." Merlin deadpanned.
"I didn't mean the ground. I meant, for you. It must have been difficult." Arthur retorted quickly, noticing the joking tone in his voice was nearly gone.
"Hmm. Not really. I didn't know any different. Life's simple out here. You eat what you grow and everyone pitches in together. As long as you've got food on the table and a roof over your head, you're happy." Merlin told him honestly, explaining what he felt it was like to live in Ealdor.
"Sounds...nice." Arthur said slowly, not knowing if he meant it.
"You'd hate it." Merlin told him quickly, a small smile tugging at his lips as they spoke.
"No doubt. Why'd you leave?" Arthur asked him curiously, his eyes trained on the straw roof overhead.
"Things just… changed." Merlin answered, his face turning sad and detached as he did so.
"How?" Arthur asked him, waiting a few seconds in silence before having enough of it and pushing his face with his foot in a brotherly manner. "Come on, stop pretending to be interesting. Tell me."
"I just didn't fit in anymore. I wanted to find somewhere that I did." Merlin told him finally, his smile fading.
"Had any luck?" Arthur asked, knowing the answer before Merlin even opened his mouth.
"I'm not sure yet." Merlin answered, taking him slightly aback.
"We'll start training the men tomorrow." Arthur said, instead of what he really thought. "It's gonna be a long day. Get the candle." he ordered as he turned on his side and went to sleep, but not before noticing the pair of blue eyes watching them both intently.