Camelot
April, 505 AD
"I forgot how much fun this is," I noted with a giggle as I brought down the axe on a fallen tree – not really causing much damage, but I think I get points for trying. "Weird question, but d'ya think this is anything like what executioners feel when they, y'know, execute?"
I looked up to find a horrified look on Merlin's face as he stared at me with wild eyes.
"Just curious, I don't wanna kill anyone," I clarified with a shrug before returning my attention to my task.
"You really are a disturbing person, sometimes," my best friend stated.
"Keeps ya' on your toes," I shot back with a wink.
We got back to chopping down wood in silence for a minute or two, and I let myself get lost in my senses. The sound of the metal colliding with wood, the birds chirping, the leaves on the trees swishing with the passing winds, the smell of bark and raw nature…
"Why does Art want wood, anyways?" I questioned. "It's spring – he doesn't need a fireplace."
"It is not for Arthur, it is for storage," Merlin responded. I quirked an eyebrow, wondering why we're the ones gathering it, then. "I think he just ran out of tasks to give me and anything is better than allowing me to rest," he stated with a sarcastic smile, as if reading my mind.
"You could quit your job," I pointed out. He simply snorted and shook his head before going back to chopping wood. He likes to suffer, I guess.
Once Merlin determined that we had gathered enough wood, we collected it in our arms. I whistled Dallas over (he'd been around grazing while we worked) and the three of us began the lengthy walk back towards the castle.
"We should've brought a basket, or something, to make this easier," I noted when my arms started to grow weary from carrying the logs.
"We could make Dallas carry it…" my best friend proposed.
My jaw dropped as my head snapped towards him, "Dal is not a cargo mule! And he's here to relax, not to do our job!"
"You mean my job," Merlin pointed out. "You did not have to come."
"Oh, well, in that case…" I let all the wood in my arms drop to the ground and giggled at the way in which my best friend's eyes widened in distress. "See ya' later, alligator," I said with a wink and took off jogging through the woods, Dallas following me at an easy trot.
"No, Astra, wait!" the sorcerer whined.
I smirked to myself and halted before turning around, "Yeah?"
"Please help me, I cannot carry all of this back," he responded, giving me a puppy-dog look.
I bursted out laughing and promptly jogged back to pick up everything I'd dropped.
Some minutes later, as we walked up a small slope, half of what Merlin was carrying suddenly fell to the ground; and I snorted at the defeated look on his face.
"Well, I think this is a sign to stop n' rest for a moment," I stated and let my arms drop the wood again as I plopped down to sit on the ground, facing the direction of the castle.
The marvellous building rose up from among the treetops, the sun shining down on its stone bricks with a vibrant light that almost seemed divine. Maybe it's due to all the memories I've made there, but I think it's the most enchanting place ever.
Merlin sat down next to me while expelling a sigh and I let my head drop to his shoulder.
"Crazy to think we live there, aye?" I noted.
"Is it?" he asked.
"Compare it to your house in Ealdor… I compare it to my Uncle's farmhouse…" I responded with a long exhale. "It's almost like a dream come true."
"Yes, I suppose it is," Merlin replied in a soft tone.
I noticed some smoke rising up from somewhere in the forest and tilted my head, worrying that there was an uncontrolled fire going on nearby. Then I remembered that we'd passed by a workshop on our way to collect the wood and relaxed a little, letting my gaze stray towards Dallas, who was very busy tasting the grass around us.
Suddenly, my best friend began to chant a spell and I glanced up at him, wondering what he was doing. He nodded forwards with his head and I turned. My eyes instantly widened when I saw that he'd created an animation of a galloping horse from the smoke.
"That's so cool!" I exclaimed while giving him an excited side-hug, extracting a faint chuckle.
Merlin threw an arm around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head before standing up, "Come on. We should try to get there before dinner, or Arthur will be angry."
"Sure," I sighed and moved to help him gather the wood again.
I started when I heard some rushed footsteps against the leaves on the ground and turned around to find an alarmed-looking woman racing towards us.
"Did you see it?!" she asked in a panic while grabbing us by an arm each. "The smoke – did you see it?!"
Merlin and I exchanged a wide-eyed look, but I quickly composed myself as I responded to the woman, "Yeah, there's a workshop of some kind, it's nothing unusual."
"Yeah," my best friend echoed.
"Are you both blind?!" the lady asked in an accusatory tone. "You were right here!"
I instantly felt really bad for gaslighting her (considering that Uther has sown the fear of magic into the hearts of his subjects, which isn't their fault), but it had to be done – "Ma'am, not to be rude but, considering that it's two against one… couldn't you have been imagining things?"
"It was magic, I tell you," she asserted. "There is sorcery here."
Merlin paled a shade or two as he shook his head frantically in response. His demeanour is gonna give him away!
"We must tell the King!" the woman cried. And before we could do anything, she took off sprinting towards the castle.
"Wait!" Merlin called after her, but she didn't stop.
I gave his side a gentle nudge, "S'all right, bud. Like I said: it's two against one. Plus I'm Uther's ward. He won't find out about you."
He gulped and nodded, "Let us pray you are right."
About two hours later, the court was gathered in the throne room with the woman from earlier at the centre as she explained what she had seen in between heavy breaths. For some reason, she didn't mention Merlin and I – which was very relieving. I guess she didn't bother because we did a nice job of convincing her that we hadn't seen what she had.
"It was sorcery you saw? You are certain of it?" Uther questioned once she shut up.
"Yes, Sire," she responded in a shaky voice.
"And you swear this before your King?"
"I swear it."
I gotta say, she's gutsy to have dared to do this even after my attempt at convincing her that she was just imagining things. I'm not sure if there are any penalties against false accusations, but the fact that Uther was pressing hard for confirmation told me that there must be… I really should familiarise myself more with Camelot's laws, shouldn't I?
"Perhaps your eyes deceived you," Arthur suggested. "A trick of the light."
"The smoke was alive, I tell you," the woman responded. "I feared for my life."
I restrained the urge to roll my eyes. Now she's just being dramatic.
"I thank you for bringing this to my attention," Uther told her, though his hardened glare communicated something different. I know I'd be frightened if I were its target. "Your loyalty will not go unrewarded."
"Thank you, Sire," the woman replied with a curtsy, then she was led away by a knight – Sir Ranulf.
Uther let out a long sigh as he turned to face the royal household with a wary look on his face. "It cannot continue," he stated.
"I will hunt down those responsible, father," Arthur assured him. Oh, if only he knew… "I promise they will not escape unpunished."
"No… Stronger methods are called for," the King responded.
Are there… like… hunters of supernatural things? Like the Winchesters?! Oh, imagine if Sam and Dean walked through the doors! Would I befriend them knowing that they're after my best friend? I don't think I'd be able not to… but perhaps they could be persuaded that Merlin's good, right? I mean, they've heard the legends… And he's the friendliest, goodest person ever!
"Send for the witch finder," Uther commanded, snapping me out of my thoughts as my eyes widened. I was joking!
Gasps and murmurs echoed through the room and I gulped as I came to the conclusion that whoever this 'witch finder' is can't be good news. I didn't miss the horror that suddenly swarmed Morgana's expression.
"Sire," Gaius stepped in. "Is it necessary to resort to such measures?"
"The witch-finder is a trusted ally, Gaius," Uther responded sternly. "His help will be invaluable."
The court was dismissed shortly after and I quickly found myself falling into stride with Arthur as we walked back towards our rooms. He sent me a small grin and I returned it partly while glancing around to make sure no one was listening. Then I asked, "Who's the witch-finder and why did half the room crap their pants at the mention?"
Arthur chuckled softly as he put an arm over my shoulders, gently drawing me closer to his side. I tensed up, but didn't protest and forced myself to relax. It's not that I don't like being near him, it's that I'm not used to it and the implications it brings. And I hate that my heart forgets to keep a steady rhythm – it can't be healthy!
"Ever since the Great Purge, he has made a name for himself by travelling the realm and helping to bring down dangerous sorcerers," the Prince responded, not sounding too excited. "His real name is Aredian."
I nodded in understanding, already disliking the guy. "And the second part of my question?" I pressed.
Arthur puffed before responding, "It is said that his methods are not the kindest, and his interrogations can be rough."
I dropped my head and gulped. I don't really wanna be on the other end of this dude's magic detector if the woman from earlier happens to mention that Merlin and I were present during the incident… Though I think I'm smart enough to get myself out of trouble.
I'm also smart enough to come up with a plausible explanation for the smoke without the 'witch-finder' having to be brought in! Or, y'know, I can team up with my former roomies. Not to brag, but we're good at bull-crapping the King.
Yeah, this can work.
I gently shrugged the Prince's arm off my shoulders and turned around so that I could go in search of Uther.
"Where are you going?" Arthur protested.
"To talk to your dad," I responded before taking off in a sprint.
I managed to cut off the King's path just as he was nearing his room. "Utah – there's no need to get the Witch-hound! I can help for free! I've seen all of 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' and I've read enough of 'Sherlock Holmes' to know how detectives work!"
The man sighed in exasperation. "I do not know what any of that means, Astraea; but Aredian is an expert and, given recent events, it is crucial that we rid Camelot of all sorcery at once," he argued.
'Recent events' as in he was tricked into fondue-ing with a troll?
"I agree! Which is why I'm offering my services!" I continued. "I mean, I'm probably twice as smart as this Magic-sniffer dude. And I probably know my way through Camelot much better than he does."
Uther huffed and stepped around me. "I appreciate your willingness to help, but my decision is final," he stated as he walked away, not sparing me a glance.
I narrowed my eyes and watched him until he entered his room. Then a troubling thought crossed my mind and I took off running towards Gaius's apartment.
"Merls – we gotta hide all our stuff," I said as I stormed in.
My best friend and I promptly packed his magic books and all of my suspicious twenty-first century stuff into one of my suitcases. Then, once the lights were out, we snuck our way down to Kilgharrah's cave.
"Heeey, buddyyy! Nice to see you again," I greeted the dragon, giving an innocent smile. He regarded Merlin and I with scepticism. "We were wondering if you could help us with somethin'…"
The overgrown lizard huffed and narrowed his eyes at us. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Look, it's not a big deal," I responded with a snort. "We just need ya' to hide this suitcase 'til the Fairy-Dust-Searcher leaves Camelot."
That only earned me a blank stare from Kilgharrah, so Merlin jumped to explain further.
"I remember the Witch-finder," the dragon noted, a flash of maybe rage crossing his amber-coloured eyes. "Very well, I will help you," he relented.
"Yay! You're the best!" I cheered.
Kilgharrah promptly grabbed the suitcase – which looked hilariously small in his enormous clawed hand – and he flew towards the back of his cave without another word. I sighed and tilted my head, wondering how I would get through the next week or so without my electronic devices. But I guess it's better than getting an express ticket to heaven.
After a warm bath, I decided to re-read 'Jane Eyre' (seeing as I can't watch a movie); so I settled down on my bed with my special Avengers blanket and curled up with my collection of MCU pillows before opening the book and allowing myself to get lost in the entrancing story by Charlotte Brontë.
I was just finishing the third chapter when a knock on my door broke my concentration and I glared at the wooden portal before calling out, "What?!"
None other than the handsome Arthur Pendragon peeked inside, a small smile on his lips. "Good, you are still here," he stated and he invited himself in before closing the door. I sat up and crossed my legs while sliding my bookmark (which is just a paper aeroplane) in between the pages of my novel before setting it aside.
"Am I? I hadn't noticed," I replied, shooting him a little grin when he narrowed his eyes at me.
He moved to lean against one of the posts of my bed and my dumb heart started to race at the mere sight of him.
"Would you dine with my father and I tonight?" he asked gently.
Well… the air around Merlin and Gaius has been tense recently, thanks to the fact that this whole thing with the Witch-finder is kinda my best friend's fault… and I don't really feel like getting stuck in the middle of that. Not to mention, I'm already blushing from the suggestion that Arthur wants to spend time with me.
"Yeah, sure," I responded after a few moments, trying to appear nonchalant.
He smiled and extended an arm, presumably so that he could gallantly escort me to the dining room.
I sighed as I detangled myself from my blankets and stood up. "Hold on, I want a hoodie," I stated and rushed over to my closet, where I grabbed my white hoodie that has the Marvel logo on it, throwing it over my PJ top. I also put on a pair of socks, and then I reunited with the Prince. He offered me his hand once more and I took it this time, allowing him to lead me outside while trying not to combust from the warmth that spread up my arm and throughout my body simply from his touch.
I dropped his hand when we neared the dining room, obviously not wanting Uther to realise that we kinda have a thing going. I don't really feel like getting exiled, or something.
I frowned a bit when I realised that Morgana wasn't there, but didn't ask. She did seem shaken up about the whole Witch-finder thing. She must be worried that he'll find out that she has magic.
"Astraea, how marvellous of you to join us," the King stated, raising an eyebrow as he scanned me for a moment.
I looked down and remembered that I'm wearing my Marvel hoodie. Is it my imagination, or did he just kind of make a joke?! I chuckled a little before responding, "Hi, Utah."
Arthur gallantly opened a chair for me and I totally blushed again as I thanked him in a shy mumble while sitting down. He took the chair beside me and I cowered a little, fearing that his father would think something of the interaction. But if he did, he didn't comment on it.
I was almost done with my meal when a guard entered the room and announced that the Witch-finder had arrived. My stomach instantly dropped and I suddenly didn't feel like finishing the vegetable soup before me, so I pushed the plate away and took a long gulp of water to try to cool down a little before bringing my knees to my chest.
"Have him taken to the council chambers. We will be there shortly," Uther responded to the guard, who bowed before leaving.
My two companions hurried to finish their meals and it wasn't long before the three of us were walking towards the council chambers. Perhaps joining them isn't the wisest thing I've ever done, but I'm kinda curious about the Magician Exterminator, and wanna assess his demeanour so that I can have a better idea of what to expect from him. I don't wanna be caught blind-sided, considering that my best friend and I were sort of part of the incident that led to the man being summoned.
"So where has he been all this time?" Arthur asked his father as we entered the room – finding it empty.
"In foreign lands," the King replied. "Wherever the pursuit of sorcery takes him."
"He does all this in your name?" the Prince questioned.
"The Witch-finder serves no one. He is a law unto himself."
"So he's like Jack Sparrow but, instead of gold, he goes after sorcerers?" I asked with a head-tilt as I tried to make sense of what exactly the guy does, if he's not working under a King's orders. Not surprisingly, though, I only got confused looks that made me realise my mistake. "He's a famous literary pirate. Never mind," I waved them off and dropped my head as I bit down on my bottom lip.
"Do you smell it?" a fourth voice in the room caused me to jolt and bump into Arthur, my hand instinctively clutching his sleeve. From behind a column stepped out a tall man with groomed white hair and a stern-looking face. His creepy behaviour, coupled with the cape he was wearing, instantly made me think of Dracula. "Do you smell it, Uther?"
"Aredian," the King stated while regarding the man with a slightly startled look.
"It is all around us, the foul stench of sorcery," the Witchbuster continued.
I frowned. Perhaps he is a vampire and sorcerers have a distinct scent! "You can smell that?" I asked.
His eyes snapped towards me and I gulped while taking a step closer to Arthur. Yeah, I should've stayed in my room.
The man seemed to contemplate me for a moment, an indecipherable look in his otherwise stoic expression as he did so. Then he returned his attention to Uther, "Sorcery has infected your great city like a contagion."
"I welcome you to Camelot, Aredian," the King stepped up to the Magic-Police-Mutt and offered a handshake, which was promptly accepted. "Thank you for making such haste to be here."
"Well, let us hope I am not too late," Aredian responded with a hum.
Uther looked positively frightened as his eyes widened and his body tensed up. He doesn't need a Witch-hunter – he needs therapy!
"Every hour counts in the war against sorcery. Unchecked it spreads like a disease," the possible vampire monologued as he moved away from the King and he started to look around the room. "Seeks out the young, and the old… The weak and the able…" I moved partly behind the Prince when the man stopped before us, his eyes scanning us for a few moments. "The fair and the foul of heart alike."
Was that just part of his dramatic speech, or is he trying to say something about us?!
"You have grown lazy, Uther!" Aredian reprimanded, causing the King to tense up once more. "You have grown idle. Your once noble Camelot is rotten to the core."
My stupid brain started to sing 'Rotten To The Core' from Descendants in my mind and I mentally slapped it.
"You stand on the brink of dark oblivion," Sheriff No-Magic continued and Uther looked like he needed a diaper change from how terrified he seemed.
"I am at your disposal, Aredian," Arthur spoke, sadly shifting the Fairy Police's attention onto himself once more, which meant that I was kind of targeted as well, which caused my bones to tremble as I tightened my hold on his sleeve. "The knights will aid you in any way they can."
"You must be Arthur," the Witch-finder noted.
No, that's Shakira.
"I must be," the Prince replied with a small nod. He's cute when he's sassy.
"You are a great warrior," Aredian complimented him. "The finest this kingdom has ever known," he added while turning to address Uther.
"Thank you," Arthur responded.
"So you will not be offended when I say that I shall have no need of you or your knights," the Sorcerer Hunter continued in a dismissive manner. "The subtle craft of sorcery can only be fought by yet subtler means, methods honed over decades of study, methods known only to myself."
I rolled my eyes at his arrogance.
"We are grateful for your help," Uther told him.
Speak for yourself…
"But gratitude alone cannot keep a man alive," Aredian replied suggestively. "You must put food in his belly."
Also known as blood? I'm still not fully sure that he's not a vampire.
"I will pay your price, Aredian, whatever it may be," the King assured him.
The man glanced between Uther and Arthur (and me, I guess) for a moment and then he nodded with an almost smug look on his face. "I will bid you goodnight," he stated before starting to walk away.
"Aredian?" the Prince called out and the Anti-Magic Cowboy halted, though he did not turn around. "When do you begin?"
"I have already begun," he stated before leaving.
I let out a shaky sigh and finally let go of Arthur's sleeve, though I remained near him just 'cause I could. I turned to Uther and raised an eyebrow, "See, Utah? I would've done it for free."
He scoffed and shook his head. "Stop acting so childishly, Astraea," he scolded, and with that, he also left the room.
"You stop acting so… Uther-y," I mumbled under my breath once he was out of sight, extracting a revitalising chuckle from Arthur.
"Come on," he said while offering me his hand once more. "I will escort you to your room."
As much as Aredian terrifies me, I pondered my options overnight and decided that the best course of action is to hang out closely with him, examine his 'methods', get to know his patterns, and maybe even flatter him a little bit. He can't suspect my involvement if I appear eager to help him get rid of sorcery, right? And I can stir him in the wrong direction if he happens to set his eyes on Merlin.
So, with this in mind, I went looking for the man early in the morning and stuck to him like a flea – much to his very obvious annoyance – while following him around the town and questioning everything he did with a feigned excitement to learn.
My theory about him being a vampire was further reinforced when I noticed that he only wore dark clothing and preferred to remain in the shadows as he stalked through the crowded streets.
I should probably leave a note for my former roomies in case he kills me…
"So, have you spotted any magic yet?" I asked in a whisper while I watched him scan some vendor stands.
"It is not that simple, my Lady," he responded through gritted teeth.
"Why? Because of the many scents in the air?" I questioned, trying to hold back a smirk.
"In a sense…"
"What else are you sensitive to? Garlic?" I wondered.
"Garlic?" his head snapped towards me and he frowned. I simply nodded. He rolled his eyes and walked some metres away, moving closer to a jewellery stand. So I followed.
I remained silent for a few minutes as he assessed the crowd. I really can't figure out what he is looking for. I mean, is he expecting to see a wizard just walking around in a pointy hat? Or is his enhanced vampire hearing scanning for any utterances of spells? Does magic really give users a distinctive smell?
Aredian cleared his throat and he addressed me again, "Lady Astraea, are you aware that you have been named as a witness to the enchanted smoke?"
I tried not to show how my heart-rate accelerated at the mention as I responded, "I was there, but I didn't see what the lady saw."
"Do you think she made it up, then?" he questioned.
"Not necessarily," I responded with a shrug. "I mean, people see shapes in clouds that other people don't see all the time, right?" I pointed upwards at a random cloud, "Like that cat, for example."
"How on Earth is that a cat?"
"Exactly."
He regarded me with narrowed eyes for a moment, then he huffed and returned his attention to the crowd, the space between us falling silent once more.
An automatic grin formed on my lips when I spotted Merlin and Gaius strolling about and I figured that it wouldn't hurt to leave my post as the Fairy Bureau of Investigation's babysitter for a minute so that I could say hi. So I happily skipped over to them, frowning for a moment when Aredian followed me.
"Don't bother with 'em. They're clear," I assured him with a wave of my hand.
"I will be the judge of that," he muttered.
I rolled my eyes, but didn't stop until I was hugging Merlin, who seemed slightly concerned as he asked in a whisper, "What are you doing?"
"Babysittin'," I responded in the same manner.
"Gaius, is it not?" Aredian asked the physician. "I never forget a face."
"Nor I, Aredian," he responded, looking clearly displeased with the man's presence.
"A physician now, I hear," the Wizard-Sniffer continued. "You always did have a thirst for knowledge."
"Scientific knowledge," Gaius clarified sternly.
"Of course," Aredian nodded before shifting his focus onto my best friend.
"My assistant, Merlin," the physician stated.
"And my bestie," I piped in with a grin.
"Merlin," Aredian repeated while carefully analysing the boy.
He's smelling him to see if his blood has magic!
"May your investigation prove fruitful, Aredian," Gaius interjected before the fangs could come out. "However, you will have to excuse us, we have work to do." And with that, he began to walk away.
Merlin kissed the top of my head before following him.
"Naturally," the Pixie-Powder-Tracker muttered. "Merlin?" he called my friend back, who froze and turned around. "I have a few questions I would like you to answer. Please be at my chambers in an hour."
I forced out a chuckle as I looked up at the man, "Please! Merls doesn't have magic!"
He simply glared at me before walking away. So I followed.
As you may be able to guess, Aredian completely forbade me from joining him while he interrogated Merlin; so I was left anxiously pacing outside his room while praying that my best friend would prove to be as smart as I know he is. You won't be surprised to hear that I was quick to break through my bottom lip and draw blood.
"Astra?" I jumped at the sound of Arthur's voice and turned to find him approaching me with a concerned look on his face. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," I lied. "Just that Merls is in there with Aredian and… well… he's scary, y'know?"
He quirked an eyebrow, "You are scared of him?" I froze. I can't admit that I'm scared of something! I'm gonna seem like a child! "But you have been following him around all day," the Prince continued at the lack of a response.
"Yeah, 'cause I wanna make sure he doesn't hurt anyone," I replied.
Arthur smiled a little and he threw an arm over my shoulders, drawing me closer to his chest. What could I do, but hug him and allow my body to relax as his manly scent and natural warmth filled my senses?
"I do not think that Merlin has anything to worry about," he noted.
"I still worry," I said with a shrug. "He's my best friend."
"Allow me to wait with you, then," he stated.
I grinned a little and gave him a soft squeeze in silent thanks.
Merlin left the room not much later, looking positively spooked. So I jumped to hug him now and was able to feel his accelerated heart-rate as I rested my head against his chest for a moment.
"Are you okay?" I asked as I pushed away.
He casted a dubious look towards Arthur before nodding, "Yes, I am all right."