Camelot
November, 506 AD
Dallas and I galloped at the front of the pack as the team rode out of the castle. My fingers tangled in his soft mane while they held the neck-rope firmly as he sprinted ahead with powerful strides that thundered the atmosphere.
I was being nice and taking it easy so as to not leave the rest of Camelot's mightiest heroes too far behind. But then Fallyn appeared beside us, carrying a smirking Gwaine on her back. Of course, the Arabian mare is also much faster than the Iberian-style horses that the rest ride. I don't enjoy the fact that she can match my mighty Thoroughbred's pace, however, so I asked for more speed out of him and he delivered gladly.
Gwaine grunted and he also sped up his mount, soon catching up with us again. I dropped my jaw in feigned offence and I asked Dallas for even more speed. He seemed to switch gears as he surged forwards like a race-car on steroids.
Gwaine did his best, but Fallyn couldn't give more and I smiled triumphantly as my horse and I blazed through the woods until I could no longer see the pair behind me, let alone the rest of the team. So I reluctantly slowed down Dallas to a walk and rewarded him with a piece of carrot for being such a great horse, then I allowed him to walk and catch his breath while my friends caught up.
Eventually, Gwaine and Fallyn came barrelling down the dirt path, soon followed by the rest of them.
"Cheater," Elyan muttered with a playful glare as he reached us.
I stuck my tongue out at him. "You're just jealous that you'll never have a horse like Dal."
"I think we all are," Percival commented with a grin.
"See? He's not afraid to admit it!" I told Elyan, who only rolled his eyes in response. And that was the end of the conversation.
Now that I got the need for adrenaline out of my system (kind of – it never really goes away), I held back Dallas and fell into step with Merlin and Falcon; knowing that my friend still felt a bit under the weather. I'd insisted that he stay behind, given his recent episode, but he'd obviously refused. He grinned softly at me and we continued trekking quietly through the woods.
I jolted at a sudden tapping sound and Merlin gasped softly beside me.
Luckily, none of the horses even flinched.
"Merlin – do you need your comfort blanket?" Arthur asked in a condescending tone. I gave him a glare.
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked in a low tone.
"You are making me edgy," the Prince stated.
Tolkien nickered, causing Merlin to spook yet again. Lancelot rubbed the grey horse's neck soothingly.
"That is a horse," Arthur wisely pointed out.
"Maybe he sensed something," Merlin shot back and I nodded in agreement.
I kept an eye on Tolkien's body language in case he was indeed trying to communicate something. But his head dropped and he let out a puff, and his eyes were soft, indicating that he was calm and relaxed.
"Yes – that you are a clot-pole," Arthur retorted. I couldn't help but snort a little.
"That is my word," Merlin grumbled.
"Yes. And it suits you perfectly."
I couldn't restrain a giggle, which earned me a glare from my best friend and a smirk from the Prince.
After that, the atmosphere fell silent again and, as you may be able to guess, I quickly grew bored and began to sing Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' 'cause… Halloween.
I trailed off when we arrived at a rocky slope that led down to a group of tiny houses made of stone with straw roofs. A white smoke rose up from some spots. There were no lights or any people in sight. It seemed abandoned. Almost like a ghost village.
"It is too quiet," Arthur commented.
"Well, I don't think Drea was lyin'," I mumbled as my grip on Dallas's neck-rope unintentionally tightened, causing him to raise his head slightly against the added pressure. I instantly forced my arms to relax, not wanting to make him uneasy.
We decided to leave the horses outside the village and entered it on foot, huddling close together in case anything jumped at us. I gripped my loaded bow in my left hand while the other held Arthur's hand, our fingers laced together.
The sun began to set, leaving us with no sources of lighting other than the moon. It's a big shame that flashlights haven't been invented yet. But, luckily, the sky was fairly clear.
As we walked through the empty dirt paths, I couldn't help but feel as if we'd stepped into the 'Teen Wolf' universe. Specifically season six, when the Ghost Riders show up. Clothes were still hung from the lines outside the small homes, rapidly spoiling food was set on some tables, buckets lay on the ground with puddles around them, and a metal gate squeaked as the wind shook it.
It seems as if the inhabitants left in a hurry... Or as if they were taken suddenly…
I started when a door creaked, sounding twice as loud as it should've given the eerie silence. I tightened my grip on Arthur's hand and he gently ran his thumb over my knuckles.
I was unable to hold back a smile as a cute white goat ran out of a building, bleating as it sprinted towards the woods. We all exchanged looks of relief.
Lancelot took the initiative to motion for us to split up so that we could cover more ground. He quickly latched onto Merlin, who seemed happy to go with him, so I stayed with Arthur, unwilling to let go of his hand even when Gwaine nudged my side with a teasing grin as he passed by me while following Percival.
Arthur looked around with a scrunched up face as he analysed our surroundings. I know that he would never admit it, but he was totally spooked. Just like I was. This is certainly not the Halloween I had in mind.
A crunching sound made me gasp and almost jump out of my skin. My eyes darted around restlessly until they finally landed on Gwaine, who was looking around sheepishly. He held an apple in his hand and he was chewing. "Sorry," he said.
I dropped my head and let out a shaky sigh. Arthur let go of my hand to wrap his arm around my shoulders and draw me closer to him. I attempted a grin and reached up to kiss the side of his jaw.
"Here!" Elyan suddenly called out from a distance.
We all took off running in the direction of his voice and my hand automatically found Arthur's once more.
We found Elyan standing inside a house, his sword in hand as he analysed something on the ground. I blinked rapidly as I worked to adjust my eyes to the poor lighting. My stomach twisted when I was finally able to focus on the frost-covered bodies that littered the floor. Their unmoving faces held panicked expressions.
Arthur turned me around and gently held my head to his chest, shielding me from the disturbing view.
I gasped at an eerie shriek that sounded in the distance and pushed away from the Prince in time to see a white blur flash past the window.
"What's that? Like a banshee?" I questioned in a whisper as my heart-rate accelerated.
"Did anyone see it?" Arthur asked.
"We are literally chasing shadows," Gwaine breathed out.
My mind jumped to the episode from season one of 'Supernatural' where the brothers face some shadow demons called the Daeva. They could be repelled with light. "Let's light 'em up, then," I said.
Using their amazing boy-scout skills, the male knights managed to start a fire to create some torches.
With my bow now discarded and hanging from my back, seeing as it's useless, I held one of the medieval flashlights in one hand while the other returned to Arthur's grasp. The group split up again and the Prince and I went to investigate what appeared to be a church.
Faint shrieks were heard in the distance and I stepped closer to Arthur as we entered the small wooden building. I shone my torch around, finding that the place was empty. A burnt out candle that still emitted some smoke and a waxy scent sat at the altar, along with an old-looking leather-bound bible and a rosary.
Another loud shriek caused me to jump with a gasp and I bumped into Arthur. He quickly steadied me and gave me a reassuring look.
"Let us get out of here," he proposed. I nodded and allowed him to lead me back outside.
My heart stopped when I heard Lancelot yell Merlin's name in the distance.
Oh, crap, did the ghosts get him?!
I dropped Arthur's hand and took off running towards the direction from which I heard Lancelot's voice. My feet couldn't move fast enough!
A huge wave of relief hit me when I saw that Merlin was alive – though he looked incredibly shaken and his eyes were teary. I jumped to hug him tightly, and he quickly returned the gesture. I could feel his accelerated heart-rate and trembling body against my own, which caused a lump to form in my throat.
"There is something out there!" Lancelot called out as the rest of the team caught up with us.
"You saw it?" Arthur inquired.
Lancelot nodded. "When it saw the light, it fled."
Well, aren't I a genius?
"Let us get the horses," Gwaine suggested as he squared up.
"I-it is not something you can chase or something you can kill," Merlin replied with a shake of his head, his voice quivering slightly.
Arthur's eyes widened in terror. "We need to get out of here," he stated with a gulp. No one argued.
We arrived back in Camelot almost at sunrise to find that the lower town had also been attacked by weird ghostly beings.
Arthur asked Merlin to find Gaius and get him to the council chamber, and I went with him. He's still incredibly shaken up from his close call, which means that I'm also shaken up. Seeing him uneasy causes my soul to twist into knots. There's nothing worse!
The other knights were instructed to help to deal with the aftermath of the paranormal invasion in whatever way they could.
Merlin and I found the physician in a dark room, where the bodies of those who died had been gathered and laid out for inspection. White sheets covered them, but that didn't make the sight (and smell) any less awful. My heart churned and I felt slightly light-headed.
Gaius's eyes widened when they fell on us and he rushed to hug us. "Oh, children, I am glad that you are safe."
"You, too, Pops," I responded with a small forced grin. Merlin simply averted his gaze towards the ground.
"You saw them," Gaius deduced. Merlin nodded stiffly.
"Close encounter," I whispered. "Lancey saved him."
The physician's eyes widened and he stepped closer to the young sorcerer while looking him up and down.
"My magic is useless against them," Merlin said as he tightened his grip on my hand. "I have tried… I have never felt so powerless. Something deep inside. And when it came for me, I felt this emptiness... I could not breathe."
I moved to hug him. I wish that I could absorb all his negative emotions into myself and rid him of the burden.
"I am scared," he confessed in a whisper.
"Merlin, it is all right," Gaius said as he stepped closer to us and he placed a reassuring hand on my friend's shoulder. "It is not your fault."
Merlin dropped his head to rest it above mine and tightened his grip around me.
Eventually, we reluctantly pulled away and finally informed Gaius that Arthur needs him in the council chamber. The physician nodded and walked away while Merlin and I went to his small apartment, wanting something to eat.
My best friend sat at the kitchen bench while I did my best to prepare some plain oatmeal for us. I don't really care for it, but I know that the taste brings him comfort because it reminds him of his mom's cooking. However, the empty look in his eyes remained even as I tried to crack a few jokes at my own expense, to no avail. Still, I stayed by his side the entirety of the day.
We took a much needed nap, played some chess, I helped him to clean Arthur's armour when his hands got too shaky, and at sundown we curled up on his bed with a large collection of blankets around us and watched the most light-hearted movie I have on my tablet – 'Despicable Me'. That got him to crack a few smiles.
At night, I accompanied him upstairs to Arthur's room, since he still needs to tend to some of his duties. He neglected them all day after I promised to take the blame if a certain handsome blond protested.
I sat on the dining table near the Prince, who was sharpening a knife, while Merlin worked on lighting the candles on the chandelier.
A shriek suddenly echoed through the room, causing me to flinch and scoot closer to Arthur. He placed a reassuring hand on my knee and turned to Merlin, who seemed even more spooked than I felt and had even dropped one of the candles, which rolled under the bed. Arthur gave him a pointed look.
"I thought I saw something," Merlin defended in a mumble, looking completely terrified once more as some colour drained out of his face.
I jumped off the table and moved to stand next to my friend, placing a (hopefully) comforting hand on his arm.
"What was it, a spider?"Arthur questioned dismissively.
Merlin didn't answer as his gaze travelled to the fallen candle, which had rolled again and now lay near a flapping window drape. I gulped, now feeling as if we've been placed inside 'The Conjuring'.
Arthur suddenly stepped up beside me. "Just pick it up," he pressed Merlin while also staring at the candle.
The curtain continued to dance, and Merlin didn't make a move. Which is obviously a smart decision. Wanting to play the hero is how the monsters get you. He let out a shaky breath.
"Do you want me to get one of the maids to do it for you?" Arthur taunted.
"It's not a joke," Merlin replied sharply.
"You pick it up," I mumbled to the Prince, who gazed down at me with an indecipherable look in his eyes. Then he muttered a 'yeah' and actually walked towards the fallen candle.
My eyes widened and I tightened my hold on Merlin as Arthur reached for a sword and he used it to move the drape from afar. I held my breath.
Merlin and I both sighed in relief when Arthur revealed a harmless wall and I dropped my head.
"You see, Merlin, I could never be like you," Arthur said as he picked up the candle and he walked back towards us. "I could never let myself look so spineless."
"'Cause you got the survival instincts of a drunk panda," I muttered under my breath.
"Oh, see, I am different. I could never let myself look heartless," Merlin quickly retorted, causing me to grin.
"What?" Arthur asked with a tilt of his head.
"Well, all right, thoughtless," my best friend said.
"Sounds about right," I mumbled, causing the hot himbo to gape at me.
"Definitely humourless," Merlin piled on and we shared a small smirk.
"Because you are not funny," Arthur shot back.
Before anything else could be said, another shriek rattled the walls of the castle. My stomach dropped and I jumped closer to Merlin. We clung to each other while my eyes darted around the room.
If a banshee-ghost comes at me, I'm going back to Texas.
"Y-you are not scared?" Merlin asked Arthur in a low, slightly strained voice.
"Oh, I am, Merlin," he responded, all humour gone from his tone. "Maybe more than you."
My heart twisted and I gave Merlin a gentle squeeze before releasing him so that I could also hug Arthur. The Prince sighed and he wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, his chin resting on top of my head while I nuzzled into his chest.
I kinda miss when high school was my biggest concern.
Camelot might be in the middle of a[nother] crisis, but I still need to work with the horses. It's all right, though, because they are always able to take my mind off things, if only for a little while. And being around them is rewarding every time.
First, I took Cinderella out for an easy ride around the arena. I feel kinda guilty that she's been slightly pushed to the background, since Morgana is no longer around, and I wanna make her feel loved again. Because I do love her. She's the reason why Uther made me the 'King's Horsewoman' in the first place! So I cantered her around the arena without a bridle and then I took her over some small jumps, just for fun. I cooled her off and returned her to her paddock.
Then I went to get Talos. The grey Welsh-style pony is a superstar, but given his small stature, I haven't been able to pair him up with any of the knights, considering that they tend to be big and muscular (obviously). I seem to be one of the few people in the castle small enough for him to carry around comfortably. Too bad that I like big and mighty Thoroughbreds! So I guess that I will simply keep him fit and hope that he finds a nice partner one day. Maybe I'll finally convince Gwen that Sawyer needs a buddy but, given that Scheherazade lives with him now, I don't think that's very likely.
Once Talos was back in his paddock, I went to get Barbie – a gorgeous two-year-old palomino Iberian-style filly that Leon recently acquired. He hopes that, once she's old enough, she will ease Faye's burden by giving her someone to share her job with. Much like Tequila did for Bronze for a bit before the latter was finally given the retirement he deserves.
Barbie is smart, curious, and very easy-going. And when she moves, she looks as if she's floating on air, her strides elegant and smooth. I can't wait until she's physically mature enough to be ridden!
And yes, her name is totally a jab at that time when Gwen had to force Leon to dress up as a woman so that they could sneak out of the invaded lower town. He allowed me to name her that in exchange for me dropping the topic forever. A fair trade, in my opinion.
Finally, I took Santo around for a spin. I asked Arthur to let me keep him after Sir Gareth was killed. It's not like the horse and I have an overly special bond, but the deceased knight was a good friend to me, and ensuring that his horse has a safe future is my way of honouring him.
I returned to my room, exhausted and yearning for a bath, only to find Gwaine standing outside the door.
My eyes widened at the sight. "What are you doing here?! You can't go into my room!" I exclaimed as my heart-beat sped up.
The brunet's curious nature makes me fear what could happen if he finds all of my questionable twenty-first century items, so I forbade him entry as soon as he became a permanent resident of Camelot.
He smirked. "I will learn your secrets one day, Trae."
I narrowed my eyes at him and crossed my arms. "What do you want?" I asked, choosing to ignore his words.
"I am here on behalf of your future husband," he replied, his smirk widening. I felt blood rush to my cheeks and I averted my gaze as a little smile forced itself onto my lips. "Gaius found a way to get rid of the faceless monsters, apparently. We are riding out in a few hours."
I let out a sigh of relief. I can't wait to put this nightmare behind!
"Great, I'll be ready. Thanks, Gwainester," I told him with a grin, then I gave him a quick hug and pushed him away from the door. "Go. I don't want you anywhere near my stuff," I said while giving him a pointed look.
He chuckled and backed away with his hands raised in surrender. "One day, sweetheart," he promised with a wink, and he ran away before I could protest.