Somewhere in medieval Britain
May, 505 AD
Night turned into day and I felt fairly exhausted as Dallas and I trekked through the forest behind Arthur and next to Merlin. The wind was cool, despite the slightly warm climate, which allowed me to comfortably keep a hoodie on – something that's unthinkable in Texas and always earned me a bunch of weird looks. Multiple birds chirped around us, and I found the sound only slightly soothing as my stomach continued to churn thanks to my brain's ideas of what might be waiting for us when we find Morgause.
Arthur halted Bronze at a fork in the road, his eyes darting between the two possible paths ahead as he frowned a little.
"Which way?" Merlin questioned. The Prince remained silent while he continued to contemplate our limited options. "Do you actually know where we are going?" my friend pressed.
"It is this way," Arthur stated while pointing to the left side and he nudged Bronze onwards, but the equine didn't move. "Come on," the Prince said while trying again, but the horse still refused. "What is wrong with this horse?! He is even dumber than you, Merlin!"
"Dude, chill," I scolded. "Don't be mean to Bronzey."
Bronze suddenly turned towards the path to the right and began to walk without any commands, resisting the tugs on the bridle as Arthur tried to turn him back around.
"Where are you going? I thought you said it was left!" Merlin called out to the Prince.
"It is not me! It is Bronze!" Arthur called back.
"Oh, well," I sighed. "Walk on," I told Dallas, and he obeyed without a second thought, following after Bronze.
"Morgause told me, 'when the time comes, you will know your way,'" Arthur noted.
My eyes widened in realisation. Uther was right! She's a witch! Oh, crap, this stupid quest just keeps getting worse!
Merlin and Falcon soon caught up with us and the former gave me an annoyed look, likely thinking the same thing I was. I puffed and dropped my body forwards onto Dallas's withers, closing my eyes as I decided to rest for a little bit. I know that I can trust him not to run off, or something; or I wouldn't ride him with just a neck-rope.
"What if Morgause challenges you to do something you do not want to do?" Merlin suddenly asked, causing me to straighten up as I looked at Arthur expectantly.
"I am not expecting it to be easy, Merlin," the Prince responded, sounding slightly annoyed. "That is why it is called a challenge."
"So you would do anything she asks of you?" my best friend pressed on, sending a wary glance my way.
I gulped as a heavy realisation crashed into my mind – Morgause might not be looking to kill Arthur! What if she's hoping to become the next Queen of Camelot? Does she want some Pendragon babies? What if she's also a time-traveller and wants to send Arthur to, like, 1944 and have him help the Nazis? What if Arthur's mom never truly died and she's keeping her hostage and wants to exchange her for him? What if–
"I gave her my word. It is a question of honour," Arthur's response snapped me out of my thoughts.
"What if she challenges you to do something even less honourable than breaking your word?" Merlin wondered. We could just kill her…
"Will you stop rabbiting on?" the Prince snapped. "We are in Odin's territory. We could be attacked at any second."
"I just think it is strange to agree to do something when you do not know what it is," Merlin continued.
"One more word out of you, Merlin, and you will be taking the challenge in my place!"
The conversation was forced to end when an arrow suddenly flew past Merlin's head and embedded itself on a tree, causing Falcon to rear out of fear and the sorcerer fell off with a groan, then the horse ran off.
A bunch of men in maroon and silver began to drift towards us.
Arthur was quick to hop off Bronze (I don't know how he did it so swiftly, given how restraining medieval saddles are!) and he pulled his sword off its sheath, ready to defend us.
Knowing that I would be useless if I tried to help and fight, I instead asked Dallas for a gallop and we took off running after Falcon.
Fortunately, an Iberian-style horse will never be able to outrun a mighty Thoroughbred, and we caught up with Falcon in no time, mirroring his speed. I reached forwards to grab his reins and then I gradually brought both horses down to a trot so that I could turn them around more easily and get back to the boys.
By the time I got there, all the attackers were dead, leaving only Merlin and Arthur (and Bronze) at the scene.
The Prince was panting heavily as his eyes connected with mine. "Where the hell did you go?!" he asked in bewilderment.
I tilted my head and glanced down at Falcon, thinking that the answer was fairly obvious; but I still answered, "To get Falcon back."
Merlin promptly grabbed the horse and began to rub his neck gently – I presume to help him relax.
Arthur sighed and he appeared to release a little tension. "You scared me, I thought someone might have taken you," he responded.
"I'd just annoy them into releasing me," I replied with a grin in an attempt to ease the mood. The Prince simply shook his head and moved to return his sword to its sheath on Bronze's saddle.
"Maybe we should turn back," Merlin suggested, sounding slightly scared, and I nodded in agreement. "The woods could be full of Odin's men."
"You two can go back if you want to, I will not stop you," Arthur replied in a low, deflated tone.
"You do not know anything about Morgause! You do not know what she is going to ask you to do! We do not even know where we are going, we are following a horse!" my best friend ranted, flailing his arms around emphatically until Falcon jumped at the sudden movement, forcing the sorcerer to stop being so dramatic.
Arthur turned around, "Morgause said she knew my mother."
Merlin's expression softened and he sighed.
So… I guess we're still going.
When the sun began to set, we stopped at a small clearing by a stream and set up a camp. I took care of untacking and grooming the horses, wanting to make sure they didn't have any sore spots; while the boys teamed up to build a small campfire. Then Merlin busied himself with warming up some food that Gaius had pre-made for us – rice with little bits of carrot cut up in it.
Soon enough, us three humans settled down to have dinner and I managed to get a full meal for the first time since the fight with Morgause. I still felt that knot in my stomach, but I was also very hungry.
I noticed that Arthur seemed somewhat disconnected from reality as he twirled his fork around in between bites, his eyes fixed on the bowl. I slowly scooted closer to him on the log we were using as a chair until our legs were faintly touching and he sent me a barely-noticeable grin. I might've imagined it, but I choose to believe that it happened.
"What was your mother like?" Merlin asked Arthur once we were all done eating. I sent him a wary look, knowing that he was boarding a delicate subject, but I didn't interfere.
"I never knew her," the Prince responded in a mumble, his eyes still fixed on something below. "She died before I opened my eyes."
Merlin's expression turned empathetic. "I am sorry," he offered.
I hesitantly reached for one of Arthur's hands, fearing that the motion wouldn't be welcome, and I was surprised when he instantly completed the action and intertwined our fingers.
"I barely know anything about her," he continued speaking in a deflated tone.
"Can you not ask your father?" Merlin questioned gently.
Arthur finally looked up at him and a corner of his lips drew backwards as he shook his head. "He refuses to talk about her. It must be too painful for him," he responded. "Sometimes it is as if she never even existed."
I felt a pang in my chest and dropped my head as a lump formed in my throat. Sometimes I feel as if my parents never existed… Will never exist? I don't know. Time-travel is confusing.
"I still have a sense of her," the Prince continued. "Almost as though she is part of me."
I gave his hand a gentle squeeze and he responded by letting go – which made me freeze for a second – only to wrap his arm around my waist. Then he offered me his other hand and I happily took it. He intertwined our fingers again and I let out a shaky sigh while leaning my head against his shoulder.
"That is the same with my father, I never knew him," Merlin stated, causing Arthur's gaze to jump to him once more.
He seemed almost comforted by the realisation that he's not the only one without a parent.
"And my mother has barely spoken of him… I have got this… vague memory," my best friend continued. Then a pained smile formed on his lips and he shook his head, "It is probably just my imagination."
My eyes pooled with tears and I dropped my head again. I get it, they're bonding over trauma – but can't they bond over a trauma I don't share? I don't wanna cry like a baby in front of them!
"I would do anything for even the vaguest memory," Arthur noted.
Well, I guess I'm lucky in the sense that I at least got to live three – almost four – years with my parents, even if I don't remember much 'cause I was a toddler… And I've got photographs… And Gustab always answered any questions I had regarding them; but I never asked many because I didn't want to cry like a baby.
"Is that why you are so determined to find Morgause?" Merlin softly asked the Prince. "To see what she knows about your mother?"
"Is that so wrong?" Arthur questioned, his head down again as he started to run his thumb over my knuckles; which was very comforting and I managed to successfully blink away the tears that had formed in my eyes.
"No," Merlin responded with a shake of his head.
Now I know that any thoughts of returning back to Camelot and not seeing Morgause have to be put out. I may not trust her – I may be kinda scared of her! – but, if she truly knew Arthur's mom, then he deserves the chance to find out as much as he can about her. I'd be willing to do a lot for a similar opportunity. But my parents haven't even been born yet, so I can't.
Merlin stood up some minutes later, claiming that he was going to the creek to wash the kitchen supplies. Usually, I would've offered to help without a moment of hesitation… but I just felt so comfortable and content where I was beside Arthur. So I made a mental promise to take on that task the next time it was required and I remained in place.
"What about your parents?" the Prince suddenly asked, causing me to tense up. "I have never heard you speak of them."
I glanced up to find him watching me intently and I gulped before looking at the ground again. "They, uh…" I cleared my throat when my voice broke a little. "They passed away when I was three." I felt a slight, throbbing, sort of phantom pain in my abdomen and moved my free hand to cover the spot where the fugly long scar lays.
Arthur kissed the side of my head and I looked up at him, grinning a little when our eyes connected. I felt my face warm up, but I didn't dare to ruin the moment by dropping my gaze. Then he pressed a kiss to my forehead and gently squeezed me to his side. I let go of his hand to wrap my arms around his torso and I reached up to kiss his cheek before leaning my head against his chest.
I'm a lucky girl, aren't I?
The journey continued as soon as the sun began to rise the next morning. Bronze was kept on a loose rein, which allowed him to feel free to move wherever he pleased without having to worry about any tugging on the bridle, and he happily trotted along the forest path, his ears perked forwards and his strides animated.
Bronze broke through a barrier of trees to show us a magnificent sight – a beautiful lake with shimmering water that was surrounded by hills and trees, and at the back of it was a small waterfall. Or it looked small from a distance. I mean, it's not the Niagara Falls, but it's still not somewhere I'd like to be trapped atop with a crappy raft. The horse seemed to want to continue into the water, but Arthur quickly picked up the reins and stopped him.
"It seems your horse has brought us to a dead end," Merlin noted.
"Why don't ya' just let 'em keep going?" I proposed. "Dall n' I will save you if he turns out to be suicidal."
Arthur relented with a sigh and he loosened his hold on the reins once more. Bronze stepped forwards without hesitation and entered the water, which only reached his knees and hocks.
"I think you are going to get wet," Merlin quipped with a grin and I giggled as I prompted Dallas to follow. If Bronze has been enchanted to un-alive himself (and the Prince), we need to be able to reach them in time to pull the horse back.
To my surprise, even as the pair got further and further away from the shore, the water remained at the same level.
The weather wasn't exactly ideal for a swim, but I still enjoyed the few drops of water that gently splashed my clothes, face, and hands as Dallas moved through the lake.
I tilted my head when Bronze stepped right through the waterfall and I asked my horse for more speed, worrying that there might be something unpleasant on the other side. I clenched my jaw and shrunk into myself as I readied to go past the curtains – and I suddenly felt very grateful that my duffel bag is water-proof.
The heavy streams of water falling on me (and Dallas) without mercy felt like an 'ice bucket challenge' gone wrong and I started to shiver instantly from the cold, really wishing that Morgause had had the courtesy to warn us about his part of the journey so that we could've brought towels and maybe swimsuits… Are swimsuits a thing yet?
Luckily, there were no Loch Ness monsters hiding on the other side of the waterfall, but a big tunnel that seemed to be man-made judging by the symmetrical cut of the rocks.
I caught up with Arthur and my jaw dropped when I found a tall fortress standing right in front of us, its stone old and weathered, but still proud and mighty.
I'm not sure how much the sight was worth the hassle of the journey, especially considering that the ridiculously high towers blocked the sunlight, which made me feel even colder as I shivered uncontrollably. How Arthur appeared perfectly unaffected will forever puzzle me. But I think he kinda has a built-in radiator, considering how warm he always is…
"Where are we?" Merlin asked when he reached us. I swallowed a sarcastic remark.
"I do not know," Arthur replied while he eyed the castle with distrust. Then he loosened his hold on Bronze's reins again and allowed him to keep moving. The horse instantly began to walk around the perimeter of the castle, and Merlin and I prompted Falcon and Dallas to follow.
"If we were not sure that Morgause is a sorceress before, we can be certain of it now," Merlin noted.
"That must have been how she defeated me," Arthur stated. "She was using magic."
I raised an eyebrow. I mean, it's certainly a possibility.
My best friend hummed, "It did not look like she was."
Arthur turned back to glance at him and scrunched up his face. "And what would you know about magic, Merlin?" he asked before prompting Bronze to move faster.
Gotta love the irony.
Merlin and I shared an amused look behind the Prince's back and then my friend shook his head as he responded, "Nothing." I bit back a laugh.
Bronze halted in front of a small entrance and dropped his head to graze, so we took it as a sign that his job here was done. Us three humans dismounted and Merlin secured Falcon and Bronze's reins to their saddles to avoid them getting tangled; and then we went inside the castle.
The entrance led to a patio with tall walls that continued to block the sunlight that my shivering body was begging for. My eyes widened and I gulped when I found an executioner's block, along with an axe, placed in the middle of the chamber.
Arthur grabbed the axe and swung it around for a moment before placing it back down and looking around the room with a frown. "Now what?" he questioned.
"Maybe we should ask the horse," Merlin sassed, earning a glare from the Prince. "Well, there's no one here," he added with a shrug while moving towards the doorway.
I went to follow, until a female voice made me halt, "You kept your promise."
It was Morgause, who descended a narrow and barely intelligible staircase; Thanata walking behind her with a creepy smirk on her lips.
The blonde woman approached Arthur, her eyes regarding him in an indecipherable manner, and he frowned as he watched her.
My hand reached out to clutch the sleeve of Merlin's jacket and he was quick to put an arm around my shoulders and pull me closer to his side.
"What is the nature of the challenge you wish to set me?" Arthur questioned Morgause.
"Place your head on the block," she instructed as she retrieved the axe.
My breath hitched and I glanced up at Merlin, who gave me a reassuring look. Right. He has magic. He can stop the witch if she really tries to kill Arthur… But that didn't make me feel any better as my heart began to race.
Arthur looked down at the block, then back up at the woman as he raised an eyebrow.
"You gave me your word that you would do anything I asked," she pressed.
So she does want to kill him, after all!
"Arthur, don't," Merlin cautioned as the Prince began to move towards the block.
Likely against my better judgement, I dashed to interfere in his path and grabbed one of his hands as I argued, "You also promised that I wasn't gonna lose you, remember?!"
He used his free hand to cup my face and he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "It is all right, Astra. You are not going to lose me," he stated in a whisper before letting go of me and moving towards the block again.
What kind of logic is that!?
Feeling as if I were about to throw up my heart, I turned to Merlin for help and he instantly shouted, "I will not let you do this!"
"Stay out of this, Merlin!" the brilliant Prince Arthur freaking Pendragon said while he kneeled before the block and he placed his head on it, his body trembling. I watched through a slightly blurred vision as Thanata picked up the axe and handed it to Morgause
"I swear, if you dare harm even one single cell in him, I will pull a page right out of Vlad The Impaler's book, except that the stake will be set on fire for extra measure," I spewed out at the woman. She and her teenage prodigy had the audacity to share a chuckle and I clenched my jaw.
What are they laughing at, anyways?! Vlad The Impaler won't be born for another nine-hundred years, or so!
I darted back to my best friend and gripped his arm tightly as Morgause brought the blade dangerously close to the Prince's neck. I stopped breathing. Then she raised it and I noticed Merlin discreetly holding out his free hand. A moment later, she handed the weapon back to Thanata, who carefully set it on the ground while the woman turned around.
Arthur instantly stood up and I rushed to hug him tightly. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head.
"You have shown that you are truly a man of your word, Arthur Pendragon," Morgause noted, then she turned back to face him. "And for that I will grant you one wish. Tell me what it is that your heart most desires."
What is she? Like, a genie?
"You said you knew my mother," he responded. "Tell me all that you know about her."
"Perhaps you would like to see her," the woman proposed with a smirk.
My eyes widened. Was I right?! Does she have her as a prisoner or something?!
"I want that more than anything," Arthur replied, his eyes filling with something that looked like hope.
"As you wish," Morgause said and she waved Thanata over as she walked inside the building.
I reluctantly let go of Arthur so that he could be free to follow. He almost immediately took a hold of my hand, and he used his free one to wipe at my left cheek. It was then that I realised that my dumb eyes had expelled a few tears and I instantly dropped my head in embarrassment. He gave my hand a gentle squeeze before he moved to go after the witches, tugging me along. I let out a shaky sigh and followed without protest.
Arthur, Merlin and I waited patiently (or anxiously, in my case) in a corner of another roofless room while the two blondes began to prepare some sort of witchy ritual. Complete with drawings on the floor, candles and amulets. I was instantly reminded of 'Supernatural' and I kinda wished that all that had stayed on the TV; but here we are.
The preparations for whatever Morgause was planning now took long enough that night reached us, and I had to go outside and get my bomber jacket and Avengers blanket from my duffel bag to help me not be so cold, seeing as I was still fairly damp from the waterfall crossing and my body hadn't really stopped shivering even while pressed against Arthur.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Merlin asked the Prince in a whisper.
"If you were granted the same opportunity, would you not want to meet your father?" he responded.
Fair point. I know I'd do it…
"Uther will never forgive you if he finds out you have collaborated with sorcerers," my best friend countered and I turned to raise an eyebrow at him. I mean, I'm also wary of Morgause, but I don't think that using Arthur's complicated relationship with his father is the right way to try to convince him to not trust her.
"What if my father's attitude to magic is wrong?" the Prince questioned.
My eyes widened as I looked at Merlin again. Maybe Arthur's not as brainwashed as I'd thought!
"You really think that?" my best friend asked him.
"Perhaps it is not as simple as he would have us believe," Arthur answered, an uneasy look in his eyes as they darted between us. "Morgause and Thanata are sorcerers, and they have caused us no harm. Surely not everyone who practises magic can be evil."
"You're probably right," I contributed in a mumble while sending my best friend a pointed look. This could be his chance to change everything!
"We do not actually know why she is doing this," Merlin countered.
Morgause suddenly turned towards us. "It is time," she stated, then she extended an arm towards Arthur.
He sighed shakily and gave me a gentle squeeze before letting go and stepping up to the woman. I shuffled closer to my best friend and linked an arm with his.