Camelot
May, 505 AD
I shared a wary look with Merlin as Morgause led Arthur to stand in the middle of a witchy circle traced with candles. She instructed him to close his eyes and he seemed to hesitate for a moment before complying. The witch then began to recite some magic words (or a demonic prayer, who knows?) and a strong wind began to blow through the room, making me shiver even more.
I'm convinced that I'm destined to die from hypothermia, because this is getting ridiculous.
The wilderness that was tangled with the foundations of the ruined castle danced as the wind swooshed around with mighty blows. I stepped closer to Merlin in search of some warmth and he shrugged my arm off his before wrapping it around my shoulders.
Suddenly, everything went still and I gulped, wondering if the witch had, like, transported us to the future or something.
My jaw dropped when a beautiful, pale, slim, middle-aged, blonde woman wearing a white gown and a silver tiara appeared among the candles, and she started calling Arthur's name.
Arthur opened his eyes. "Mother," he breathed out.
"My son!" She moved towards him and he met her in the middle as they embraced each other tightly. Arthur seemed to melt in the woman's arms as he tucked his face against her shoulder.
Either she's been with Morgause all this time, or… ghosts are real. I don't know which is less troublesome to think about. I guess the latter is more jolly… It means that I could see my parents with some sort of ritual… Though I'd probably have to go back to 2023…
My eyes pooled with dumb cry baby tears again.
"When I last held you, you were a tiny baby," the ghost woman stated in an emotional voice that indicated she was close to crying. She pushed away from Arthur and placed her hands on his shoulders as she looked at his face. "I remember your eyes… You were staring up at me. Those few seconds I held you were the most precious of my life." She placed a hand on his cheek and caressed it gently.
I felt my heart clench and I looked away for a few moments. I couldn't help it – I felt kinda jealous that Arthur was getting this moment. But also very happy for him, obviously.
"I am so sorry," he told his mom in a low tone.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," she assured him.
The Prince let out a shaky breath. "It was my birth that caused you to die," he claimed.
My heart clenched again, but now for an entirely different reason as his words struck lightning at my very soul. How can he blame himself?! Merlin wrapped a second arm around me and pulled me to his chest. I sniffled and wiped away the few tears that had rebelliously escaped me.
"No, you are not to blame," Arthur's mom affirmed.
"I cannot bear the thought that you died because of me," he responded in an unsteady voice.
More tears escaped my eyes.
She hugged him tightly again. "Do not think that!" she cried. "It is your father who should carry the guilt for what happened."
I frowned. What does that mean?! She died in childbirth like countless women do in this day and age, didn't she?!
"What do you mean?" Arthur asked.
"It is not important. What matters is that you lived," she wisely stated and I couldn't help but agree.
Arthur pushed away once more. "Why should my father feel guilty?" he pressed.
"It is better left in the past," his mom argued.
"You cannot leave me with more questions," he begged while breathing heavily. "Please."
She looked away, took a step back, and sighed before speaking, "Your father… he was desperate for an heir. Without a son, the Pendragon dynasty would come to an end. But I could not conceive..."
"But how was I born?" he asked, his features flooding with confusion. She kept her gaze averted. "Tell me," he pressed when she remained silent for one too many seconds.
His mom returned her eyes to his. "Your father betrayed me," she stated, which caused my breath to hitch. "He went to the sorceress Nimueh and asked for her help in conceiving a child."
My eyes widened at the neck-breaking plot-twist and I looked up at Merlin again. We shared a stunned glance.
"You were born of magic," the woman revealed.
I bit down hard on my bottom lip to suppress a gasp. Oh, crap! This changes everything I know about the Pendragons!
I felt my heart shatter into pieces at the absolutely lost expression that appeared on Arthur's face. "That is not true," he tried to argue in a low tone.
"I am sorry, Arthur," his mom stepped forwards again and gripped his shoulders. "Your father has deceived you as he deceived me."
Freaking Uther really is something else, isn't he?
"To create a life, a life must be taken. Your father knew that!" she kept going.
Arthur shook his head, "No."
"He sacrificed my life so the Pendragon dynasty could continue. It makes you no less my son, nor me any less proud of you," she continued. "Now I see you, I would have given my life willingly."
Arthur continued to shake his head as he squeezed his eyes shut, pain clear on his features.
I was suddenly fully weeping against Merlin's chest while trying not to make any sounds, for fear that I'd rudely interrupt Arthur's time with his mom; and my best friend held me tightly, his steady arms probably being the only thing keeping me from dropping to the ground.
"Do not let this knowledge change you!" the ghost woman pleaded with her son.
The mighty winds started to blow again and, in a second, the former Queen disappeared without another word.
"No!" Arthur exclaimed as he glanced around frantically. Then he set his eyes on Morgause as he demanded, "Bring her back!"
"I cannot," the witch claimed calmly. "Once the doorway is closed, it is closed forever."
The Prince went still, his lips parting and his eyes swimming in a storm of emotions.
Morgause stepped closer to him with a sympathetic look on her face – which, for some reason, made me uneasy. "I am truly sorry that you learnt of your mother's fate in this way," she said. "I can only imagine how it must feel to discover your father is responsible for her death… It is an unforgivable betrayal."
Wait. Oh, ship! She did this on purpose, didn't she?! To set Arthur against Uther?! I mean, Uther's an ass most of the time, and I'd be happy to see him off the throne… But it still feels evil to set a son against his father using information as heavy as this, y'know? Was the ghost even real, or just an enchantment? Was the story the complete truth, or is there another side to it? Maybe Nimueh tricked Uther!
So many variables! And, I mean, whatever the truth is… I just don't want to see Arthur get hurt…
Morgause and Thanata promptly left the room, which fell silent for a minute or two.
I glanced up at Merlin and I gave him a questioning look, wondering if I should approach the Prince or not. Obviously, he was extremely shaken and I feared that any movements would be unwelcome, or that he'd lash out, or something. My best friend gave me a nod and he gently squeezed my body before letting go and nudging me towards Arthur, who remained frozen in place with an indecipherable look on his face.
I took a deep breath and took a couple of hesitant steps. "Artie?" I said softly.
No response came and I halted, glancing back at Merlin for any sort of instruction on how to proceed. "Are you all right, Arthur?" he asked while stepping up beside me. Still nothing. "Arthur?" my friend pressed.
"Fetch the horses," the Prince suddenly commanded in a monotonous voice. "We are returning to Camelot."
The whole ride back was plagued with silence as Arthur led the way at a fast pace that I might've enjoyed were there not a big burning hole in my chest that was infected with worry and dread for what might be coming next.
My heart ached to hug the Prince tightly and somehow make him feel better about everything, but I don't even know what to say, or what to believe. I mean, obviously Morgause has an agenda, right? She didn't go through all this trouble just 'cause she wanted to help a lost boy reunite with his mom.
I kinda miss when having to do a team project for school was the worst thing imaginable…
And, to make things worse, I developed a mild cough – probably thanks to the involuntary shower we'd taken when crossing the waterfall.
We arrived at the castle at around midday two days later after a gut-wrenching journey and Arthur rode Bronze up to the main entrance, where he hopped off without a word and unsheathed his sword before racing up the staircase.
Merlin and I dismounted as well. "What are you going to do?" he called out to the Prince, getting no response.
Gaius appeared out of nowhere, "Children! I am relieved to see you are safe!"
I went to reply, but a cough left me instead and I instantly covered my mouth with my arm, earning a concerned look from the physician.
"Where is Arthur?" he then asked.
Merlin grabbed my hand and gestured for Gaius to follow us as he led us to a more discreet corner of the courtyard where we could speak. Dallas followed us, since his friends had already been taken away to the paddocks by some guards.
"Arthur was born of magic," my best friend revealed as soon as it was safe to talk. "Was he not?"
Gaius simply dropped his head and my eyes widened. He knew!
I coughed again.
"Uther used magic!" Merlin continued.
The physician sighed, "Merlin–"
"All those people he has executed," my friend continued. "He is as guilty as they are. He sacrificed Arthur's mother!" I felt another pang in my chest at the reminder. "He as good as murdered her!"
I coughed again and then let out a puff. I hate everything that has happened in the past four days.
"People should know the truth about what he has done," Merlin stated and I nodded in agreement, keeping my head low. "How could you not tell me?" he asked Gaius, his eyes showing that he felt a bit betrayed.
"I feared what Arthur would do if he ever found out," the physician responded in a grave tone.
"Fork," I muttered.
"He has found out now," Merlin responded and then he tugged on my arm. I sighed and asked Dallas to stay before relenting to taking off running once more; which instantly made me cough again, but I powered through it and through the slight headache that was beginning to form.
We sprinted into the castle and rushed up the main staircase.
I had to steady myself against a column when the coughing intensified, sending me into a fit, and Merlin halted beside me, looking concerned.
"Keep going…" I waved him off in between coughs. "I'll catch up."
He sighed, but he kept running.
Man, leave it to me to get sick at the worst possible moment! I can't remember the last time I had a cold! I might be pathologically clumsy, socially awkward, and kinda stupid; but I've always had my immune system going for me!
I clenched my jaw to restrain any more coughs and took off sprinting again.
I caught up with Merlin in time to find him pinned against a wall outside the council chambers by Sir Leon.
"What's…" cough break, "happenin'?" I asked.
"The King has forbidden anyone to enter," the knight growled, not releasing my friend.
"They're going to kill each other!" Merlin exclaimed.
Leon's eyes widened and he instantly let go, hastening to open the doors. The three of us stormed in just in time to find a frighteningly enraged-looking Arthur holding his sword to his father's chest, who was in turn pinned to his chair.
"Arthur, don't!" Merlin cried out as he raced closer to the Prince. I hung back as another cough left me. "I know you do not want to do this!"
"My mother is dead because of him!" Arthur spat back, not moving an inch.
"Killing your father will not bring her back," my best friend responded in a stern-but-gentle tone. "You have lost one parent. Do you really want to lose another?"
"Artie, please," I piped in, earning a momentary look before he returned his raging eyes to his father. Then I coughed once more and he glanced at me for another second. "This is not the solution."
"Listen to them, Arthur," Uther pleaded in a weak, shaky voice.
The Prince didn't budge.
"Arthur, please. Put the sword down," Merlin demanded.
"You heard what my mother said!" Arthur argued. "After everything he has done, do you believe he deserves to live?!"
"T-think about what killing him would do to you, though," I countered softly.
"He executes those who use magic, and yet he has used it himself!" The Prince's rant continued and he pressed his sword harder against the King's chest. Another subtle movement, and he'd probably break through his clothing. "You have caused so much suffering and pain! I will put an end to that!"
"Morgause is lying!" Merlin blurted out suddenly, making my eyes widen. "She is an enchantress… She tricked you."
I noticed that his voice was slightly shaky and I looked towards him, finding that he had tears in his eyes. What is he planning?
I coughed again and clenched my jaw in annoyance.
"That was not your mother you saw," my best friend continued. Arthur faltered, his sword-wielding arm trembling. "That was an illusion. Everything… everything your mother said to you… those were Morgause's words."
"You do not know that!" the Prince raised his voice again.
I mean, he could be right, he could be wrong. Only Uther can tell us the truth, but I doubt he will.
"This has been her plan all along! To turn you against your father! And if you kill him, the kingdom will be destroyed! This is what she wants!" Merlin responded passionately.
The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle, I guess…
Arthur faltered again for a moment, only to tense up once more when Uther said, ""Listen to him, he is speaking the truth."
"Swear to me it is not true!" the Prince commanded. The desperation in his voice, along with the way in which he was trembling and how his eyes were red with tears, broke my heart. "You are not responsible for my mother's death! Give me your word!"
"I swear on my life, I loved your mother," Uther responded. "There is not a day that passes when I do not wish that she were still alive. I could never have done anything to hurt her."
I couldn't help but note that he didn't quite say that what the ghost had told Arthur isn't true. I guess I'll always be left wondering if the story we heard was entirely true or not…
Arthur dropped his sword and collapsed to his knees next to his father's chair while breathing heavily, still trembling. Uther was quick to put a hand on his back and held him gently. I scooted closer to Merlin as tears began to leave my eyes once more and he pulled me into a hug.
"My son… you mean more to me than anything," the King said.
Arthur whispered a shaky "I am sorry," in response and I wanted nothing more than to run to him and hug him, but I knew that he needed to be with his father at the moment.
I turned away from Merlin to cough again.
"Come on, let us leave them alone," my best friend whispered and he grabbed me by an arm, leading me towards the door – where a stunned Leon and a cryptic Gaius were waiting. I looked back at Arthur for a moment and let out a shaky sigh. Then I wiped my eyes from the dumb baby tears and allowed Merlin to walk me to my room.
I'd been happily playing 'Minecraft' on my tablet later that afternoon, trying not to think too much about Arthur and the burning need I felt to give him a hug; when Gaius knocked at the door. I allowed him to come inside – not moving from my comfortable position on my bed with my blankets – and I instantly regretted my actions when he claimed that I need to get checked for the dumb cough I have.
"I'm fine, I don't need a doctor," I shooed him away. Then I coughed.
"You have been coughing non stop!" he argued. "You need help before it gets worse."
I waved him off, "It's nothing. I'll be fine tomorrow."
Against my protests, Gaius pressed a hand to my forehead and I glared at him. "Well, you are not feverish," he noted.
"That's 'cause I'm immune to infections, remember?" I asked, grimacing as I recalled that time when he'd tried to torture me by stitching up my arm and I'd revealed this secret superpower of mine.
"Why are you so stubborn?" the mak asked with a disapproving shake of his head.
"I'm not stubborn, you're stubborn," I shot back. And I coughed again.
He huffed, "Would you at least allow me to bring you a remedy for coughing?"
"I'm fine," I grumbled.
"I will be right back," he stated before leaving the room.
"Gaiuuus," I whined and I glared at the door as it closed. I'd lock it, but I really don't wanna leave my cocoon of blankets.
I let out a puff and went back to playing on my tablet. I worked on laying down the foundations for a replica of the castle that I wanted to make in the game. I doubt that it will turn out very accurate, though, because the darn place is a bit of a maze. It's kind of embarrassing that even after almost two years living here I still get lost, sometimes, when I venture out of my usual scenery.
Two years… Well, more like one and almost half, I guess, considering that I spent six months in Texas. Starting almost a year ago… It's crazy how quickly time goes by!
Speaking of time – I'm not sure how much of it passed before another knock sounded on my door, breaking my concentration. I glared at the wooden portal again as I called out, "I don't need medicine, Gaius!"
"It is Arthur!" came a reply.
"Oh!" My eyes widened and I scrambled to hide my tablet under a bunch of pillows before responding, "Come in!"
The door opened and in came the handsome Prince of Camelot. He was holding a hand behind his back for some reason, but I didn't question it as a smile automatically grew on my lips at the sight of him.
"Hey!" I paused to cough. "How're ya' feelin'?"
"Much better," he responded, grinning a little as he moved to sit at the foot of my bed. I really, really, really wanted to hug him; but I don't want to risk him catching whatever insignificant disease is annoying me. I have vaccines and he doesn't, y'know? "Like I told Merlin – I had become confused, but the two of you helped me to remember that magic is evil and dangerous."
Oh, goody! We're back to square one!
"Well, I'm glad you're smiling again," I responded, feeling my cheeks warm up at my own words.
Then I coughed again and shrunk into myself, feeling embarrassed that that keeps happening.
"Do you know what would also make me smile?" he asked, causing me to look up at him again and raise an eyebrow. "Drink this so you can get better," he revealed what he'd been holding behind his back and I narrowed my eyes when I saw that it was one of Gaius's vials, which contained a mustard-coloured liquid.
"Traitor," I grunted.
He reached for one of my hands – which had been fiddling with my spare hair-tie all this time – and he forced the vial into it. I glared at him and then took off the lid before smelling the contents. I scrunched up my nose. It wasn't as bad as it could be, but it still wasn't pleasant. It smelled like a generic plant mixed with something sour and something spicy. Not spicy like chilli, but spicy like ginger or turmeric. Now that I think about it, it likely has one of those, if not both…
"I am sure it is not that bad," Arthur stated.
"You're just sayin' that 'cause you're not the one that's gotta drink it," I grumbled.
He rolled his eyes playfully and took back the vial, then he dipped a finger in and tasted it. I titled my head and scanned him for a reaction, and he simply shrugged. "I have had way worse. Go on," he pressed.
I huffed and took back the vial, downing its contents in a single gulp.
"Oh, gross, that tastes like dead fish's butt!" I protested and scrambled to grab my thermos off my nightstand, taking a long sip. But the flavour didn't go away. So I sprung to my feet with a groan, and a cough, and dashed towards my bathroom so that I could brush my teeth. All while Arthur watched with an amused smile.
"All right, come here," the Prince commanded when I returned to my room, opening his arms.
I grinned as I moved to hug him. Then a cough made me halt. "No, I don't want you to get sick," I stated.
"I will not," he claimed.
"What if you do?"
"Then we can be sick together."
"That's hardly a good reason–"
"Astraea!"
"Fine!" I closed the remaining distance between us and plopped down next to him as I wrapped my arms around his torso, resting my head against his chest. He rounded my waist and pulled me closer to him, kissing the top of my head. I released a long sigh and tightened my grip on him.
Then I pushed away and covered my mouth as I coughed again.