Camelot
August, 507 AD
"What kind of crappy plan was that?!" I asked in exasperation.
Gaius and Merlin shared a sheepish look while the former was wiping some blood off the latter's forehead with a red cloth.
"Obviously, we miscalculated how deep the possession runs," my brother mumbled, then he flinched when Gaius applied a little too much pressure on the superficial gash.
"Merls, he could've killed ya'!" I argued. He let out a sigh, but didn't say anything. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"You were with Arthur and he was distracted. It is what we needed," Gaius cut in while giving me a pointed glance.
"I'm sorry. We should have told you," Merlin said while giving me an apologetic look.
I huffed and replied in a mumble, "Yeah, you should've."
My brother and the physician had thought it a brilliant idea to have the former learn an exorcism spell and then break Elyan out of prison so that he could perform it and get rid of the malevolent spirit inside him; but the plan backfired when the knight knocked him out in the woods and disappeared. The plan wasn't the worst we've ever come up with, really. But it just sucks that they carried it out without me. Merlin could've used the back-up and perhaps things would've turned out differently.
"Just before he jumped me, there was a presence there," Merlin commented after a few silent moments. "I could sense it."
"It was Elyan who was supposed to be knocked out, not you, Merlin," Gaius pointed out gravely.
My brother sighed as the physician finally finished treating his minor injury and he nodded at me. "We must find Arthur. Elyan could make another attempt on his life."
I waved him off. "He's under heavy guard, he'll be fine. We need to find a way to deal with the spirit."
Gaius hummed as a pensive look fell over his face. "This shrine..." he began as he turned to Merlin, "do you think you could find it again?"
Merlin and I shared a wary look. You never go back to haunted sites! That's how you get killed in the movies!
"I'm not sure I want to," my brother responded. "You said we were never to go there again."
"We have to find out all we can about this spirit," Gaius stated. I guess he's right... "Unless we know what we are dealing with, we will not be able to help Elyan," he continued. Merlin and I shared another look. "Or Arthur."
"Fine, let's do it," I relented. Merlin still didn't seem too happy, but he sighed and gave in anyway.
Twenty minutes later, the three of us were sneaking out of the castle on horseback, with my brother in the lead.
My right hand gripped an iron rod tightly as Gaius and I followed Merlin through the woods.
The sorcerer abruptly stopped in his tracks; a fearful, wide-eyed look forming on his features as he stared ahead.
"Merlin?" Gaius questioned with an expectant look.
"It is just through these trees," my brother replied as he nodded forwards.
I linked my arm with his and gave him a reassuring grin when he glanced down at me. He let out a shaky sigh and started walking again.
A minute later, we were once more standing under the endless rows of cloths that hang from lines. A slight mist covered the forest ground as the sky began to darken and the atmosphere started to grow cold. The wind blew ever so gently, causing the cloths to sway calmly. Somehow, that was even more eerie than their upbeat dance from some days ago.
A chill ran down my spine and I zipped up my bomber jacket.
"What are we looking for?" Merlin inquired, fear clear in his tone.
"I am not entirely sure," Gaius whispered in response. I gave him a questioning look. Why the heck are we here then?! "But remember, do not disturb anything."
"Trust me, I will not," my brother replied in a low voice. His hand clutched one of mine tightly to the point where he was almost crushing my bones – but I didn't protest. If he needs the comfort, he shall have it.
Ever so bravely, the physician walked slightly ahead to begin inspecting the site. Merlin and I refused to leave each other's side as we slowly shuffled closer to the hanging cloths.
Maybe there are some hidden meanings within the shapes of them, or the colours… Though, if there are, I wouldn't know where to even begin trying to decipher them. There aren't any visible patterns that I can see. At least not under the rapidly darkening sky.
Crack!
Merlin and I jumped and clutched each other tighter. We turned around to look for Gaius. My heart raced as my eyes scanned the area for him and I relaxed a little when I found him staring at us with an apologetic look. He stood over a tree branch.
"Sorry," he whispered.
I narrowed my eyes at him and then shared a glance with Merlin, who let out a shaky sigh before turning to look at something ahead. I followed his line of sight and saw a stone well some metres in front of us.
"Elyan was thirsty that day," I recalled in a low tone.
Merlin glanced down at me again for a second and he nodded before taking a step forwards, pulling me with him. Slowly and hesitantly, we walked up to the well, still holding onto each other as we came to stand before it.
My brother looked almost entranced as his gaze travelled downwards to the water, not blinking once. Some colour seemed to drain out of his face and concern grew within me as I analysed his features. Is he seeing something that I can't?
The answer to that became an obvious 'yes' when he started breathing heavily and tears pooled in his eyes. I squeezed his hand to get his attention. He gasped as his trance broke and he turned to look at me again, a few tears now running freely down his cheeks.
He blinked rapidly for a few moments and then called out to Gaius before moving to dry his eyes with the sleeves of his jacket.
"Hey, what did you see?" I asked, my voice as soft as I could make it, and I gulped as I stared at his reddened face. It really sucks to see him so upset. Especially when I don't know the reason for it and, thus, can't do anything to fix it!
Gaius soon joined us by the well, also looking at Merlin with concern while taking a few glances towards me.
"Something terrible happened here," my brother stated in between sniffles. His eyes still leaked despite how many times he's wiped at them.
The physician man stepped closer to the stone structure and he crouched slightly as he scanned it. "These runes are in the druid tongue," he noted as he pointed at some faint inscriptions on the rocks that I didn't notice until then. For a seventy-something-year-old, he sure has sharp eyes!
"I also found this," he added as he pulled out a scorched wooden arrow from his bag. "There are crossbow bolts scattered all around."
I felt a pang in my chest as I thought over the violent implications of that and I gently took the arrow from him. I looked it over, feeling the scratchy material against my hands.
"This was Uther's doing, wasn't it?" Merlin questioned in a whisper.
"That's why the spirit's going after Art... He wants revenge," I concluded in the same tone as my heart twisted painfully. "Right?"
Gaius nodded slowly.
"Fork," I mumbled as I dropped my head and bit down on my bottom lip. It's enraging that Arthur is being made to pay for his father's heartless actions. I can't help but feel empathy for the ghost, though. How can we fault it for wanting justice?
"So... what do we do? Should we tell Arthur?" Merlin asked as we neared the castle.
"We have to, right?" I responded while glancing at Gaius in search of guidance. "He's not Uther, but he's his son. He might be able to appease the spirit somehow."
"That will not be easy, dear girl," the physician pointed out.
I shrugged and argued calmly, "It's our only choice. We can't let El die. We'll find the right moment and tell 'em."
"Yes. He deserves to know," Merlin backed me up. Gaius sighed heavily, but ultimately agreed to it.
We left the horses and the mule in their paddock and then we walked to the main entrance of the castle. I was only a bit surprised to find Gwen on the staircase to the doors, seemingly waiting for us as fear and worry clouded her expression while she paced the narrow step she stood on.
"Did you find anything?" she asked as soon as her dark eyes landed on us.
I let out a long exhale. "Yeah, but it's not pretty."
Bad move. Her worry instantly intensified.
"Do not worry, we have a plan," Merlin assured her while placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
She let out a sigh of relief and nodded while giving him a little smile. "Thank you."
"Bustin' ghosts is what we do," I tried a joke, but it only earned me a half-hearted chuckle.
"Oh. Arthur has been asking for the two of you," Gwen commented as she began walking up the stairs with us.
Merlin and I shared a wary look. We're most certainly in trouble, then. Or rather, he is, I guess. As we've established, I'm untouchable… Except for the tickles. And for the guilt I feel every time he gets punished while I get a free pass because I somehow managed to charm Arthur freaking Pendragon…
"Thanks, Gwennie," I said and then linked arms with my best friend as we reluctantly separated from Gaius and our friend so that we could go find the King.
Louis courteously pointed us to the council chamber and we entered to find the stunning blond sitting at the head of the table while perusing some documents and eating breakfast. My heart-rate picked up at the mere sight of him. He wore a dark blue shirt that brought out the colour in his eyes – which landed on me as soon as Merlin and I crossed the threshold.
"Hi, Peaches," I greeted with an awkward wave.
"Astraea, Merlin. Good of you to join me," he said with a stoic expression. My brother and I shared a nervous glance. "Perhaps I should fill you in on all that has been happening while you have been..." Arthur paused and tilted his head. "That is a good question – what the hell have you two been doing!?"
Merlin went to take the bullet first, "I was–"
Only to be cut off by Arthur, "Choose your next words carefully. They may be your last."
I faked a cough, "Drama queen," another fake cough.
My brother snorted and I giggled despite the glare that Arthur sent me.
"We were out gatherin' herbs for Gaius. Y'know how special he is about his magical plants," I replied to the King's question – perhaps not choosing my words as carefully as I should've because his eyes widened in horror.
"Medicinal plants," Merlin corrected while giving me a pointed look. "Very rare ones, actually," he added as he turned back to Arthur.
"Yeah, that. And we got lost," I threw in.
Arthur raised a sceptical eyebrow. "You mean to tell me that you have been wandering around in the woods all night?"
"Yep," my brother and I replied at the same time, without hesitation.
Arthur pointed towards Merlin's bruised forehead. "What happened to your head?"
"I… I tripped over a root," Merlin responded. The King didn't seem convinced. "And I hit my head on a tree and I knocked myself out," he added, then gave a forced chuckle.
"He's a clumsy boy," I noted as I patted my best friend's back, attempting a small laugh as well.
Arthur's eyes darted between the two of us, still appearing sceptical, and he made a 'tsk' sound after some seconds. "Well, after wandering around in the woods all night – knocking yourselves out –you two must be hungry."
Merlin and I shared a puzzled look. "I am starving," he confessed.
"Pull up a chair. Tuck in," Arthur commanded while patting the spot next to him as he stared directly at Merlin.
My brother's lips parted. "Oh, thank you so very much–"
I cut him off when I saw the blank stare that Arthur was giving him, "Merls, he's messin' with ya'." I grabbed his arm so that he wouldn't make a fool of himself any further by actually sitting down.
Merlin froze and tilted his head at the King, who simply kept staring at him emotionlessly. My brother scoffed and he grabbed the discarded, half-eaten plate that sat in front of Arthur, then he promptly left the room. Obviously, I followed.
"Astraea!" Arthur instantly protested.
I paused and turned around with a smirk. "Aw, I'm sorry. Do you want me to stay?"
"You know that I do," he grumbled.
I made a 'tsk' sound and said, "Well, too bad, I'm gonna have breakfast with Merls." His eyes widened and I sprinted away before he could protest further, joining my best friend in laughter as soon as we reunited in the corridor.
A loud, sudden, frantic knock on my door, paired with a frantic "Astra! Hurry!" from Merlin caused me to shoot out of my bed, throw my Nintendo Switch in between pillows, and dash out of my room. I glanced around frantically and soon spotted my brother running down the corridor. As my stomach twisted into undoable knots, I sprinted after him.
I caught up to him when he stopped at the doors to the council chamber and he began to bang on them desperately while calling out Arthur's name. The doors seemed to be locked for some reason – a realisation that caused my insides to burn in worry.
"What's goin' on?!" I asked with my heart lodged up in my throat.
My brother didn't answer as he instead shot his arms forwards and his eyes glowed gold for a second. The doors burst open and we ran inside to find Arthur engaged in a sword fight with a dripping wet Elyan.
The distraction allowed Arthur to send the knight tumbling to the ground and he was quick to hold his sword over his chest.
I rushed to cling onto his arm. "Art – stop!"
"That is not the Elyan we know!" Merlin backed me up in his firm, commanding voice.
I watched as Arthur's eyes glazed over and his body began to tremble slightly. With a shaky breath, he lowered his weapon and backed away from the possessed man.
Elyan scrambled backwards and then he stumbled to his feet before running out of the room.
I turned my head back to look at Merlin. We were supposed to stop the killing, not let the spirit in the knight's meat-suit roam freely. But... y'know... details, I guess. "You should get Pops," I told him. My brother's bewildered eyes jumped between the King and I for a few seconds, then he nodded and left the room.
With a heavy exhale, I returned my attention to Arthur and loosened my grip on his arm before moving to stand in front of him. I let my eyes meticulously trace his features for a few moments. His jaw was tight, his eyes were cloudy, and his gaze was fixed on the door that possessed!Elyan used to exit the chamber. He didn't look angry. Maybe a bit sad? Frustrated? Confused? I don't know. I'm not the best at reading people.
I slowly slid a hand up to his left shoulder and fixed the collar of his shirt, which had moved to reveal his collarbone during the struggle.
"Are you okay?" I finally dared to ask in a whisper.
He finally removed his attention from the door and let his eyes fall on mine as his lips parted. But he said nothing and instead moved to hug me tightly, tucking my head under his chin as he continued to breathe heavily. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed a kiss over his clothed heart, my own still racing from the rollercoaster of events.
Gaius, Merlin, Gwen, Arthur and I (plus the big snake bastard Aggravate, but I don't like to acknowledge his existence) gathered in the throne room about an hour later, seeing as the council room was disabled thanks to all the water that Elyan had – for some reason I assume must be connected to the spirit – dripped inside while trying to kill Arthur.
Agravaine debriefed the King on the measures that will be taken to ensure his safety – not that Merlin, Gaius or I trust him with it – and then he was dismissed, meaning that it was time to reveal what we learned of Elyan's situation.
"You know that it isn't Elyan or you would not have let him go," Merlin told Arthur in a low voice once Agravaine was out of the room.
The King gulped and nodded before responding, "When Elyan spoke to me… it was not with his voice. It was the voice of a boy, a child."
A shiver ran down my spine. I wasn't expecting the spirit to be a child! I mean, I know very well that Uther never gave a crap who died if he believed they possessed magic. The time he tried to kill Mordred comes to mind. But seeing that fact become exposed in this way made me feel as if an armoured Jeep had run me over. Who knows what horrors the kid might've experienced before dying?! This whole situation is so messed up!
"That is the voice of the spirit that now possesses him," Gaius explained in a grave voice.
"A child?" Gwen questioned softly, her eyes widening. I shot her what I hoped looked like a reassuring grin.
Arthur threw an arm over my shoulders and pulled me closer to him. I let out a sigh, releasing a little bit of tension as his manly scent filled my senses, and I leaned against his side.
"What do you know about the shrine, Gaius?" he asked while turning to the elderly man.
"I believe the site was once a druid camp," Gaius responded slowly, as if to test Arthur's reaction. "There is evidence that the camp was attacked." I felt the King tense up beside me. "Your father was relentless in his persecution of the druids. Many died." I shifted as I felt another pang in my chest. "I believe it is one of those tormented souls that now possesses Elyan."
I watched as Arthur's eyes clouded over and he walked away from me, turning his back to all of us. "And that is why he seeks his revenge," he noted in a mumble.
"The spirit craves peace," Gaius responded. "He wishes to find his proper place in the other world, but the unjust nature of his death has denied him that."
I gulped, clenching my jaw as I tried to keep the rising emotions at bay while a wave of nausea ran through me. I think this is the closest we've ever gotten to living out 'Supernatural' and I don't like it. All of that was supposed to stay inside the screen – or in fanfiction!
Arthur turned back around as he inquired, "Is there anything that can be done to change this?"
"In druid lore, only the atonement of the perpetrator can bring the spirit peace," Gaius responded.
I tilted my head as Arthur looked away again, letting out a shaky sigh.
"But Uther is dead," Merin pointed out the obvious.
"Yeah, it's not like we can summon him with a Ouija board and make him apologise, or whatever," I said with a humourless snort. Then I frowned and turned to Gaius as I asked, "Could we?"
"I do not know what that is, Astra," he replied, his forehead extra wrinkly.
I waved him off.
"W-what about my brother?" Gwen squeaked into the conversation.
"Elyan is no longer the man we knew," Gaius answered softly. The girl looked away as tears pooled in her eyes and Merlin moved to comfort her by placing a hand on her back. The physician's attention returned to Arthur as he continued, "The spirit has a hold on him that may be too powerful to break. All we can hope is that he will be found before he has a chance to enact his revenge."
Arthur glanced at Gwen before returning his gaze to the elderly man. "And if we do find him?"
I sent Gaius a pointed look, silently begging him not to say anything harsh, and I answered before he could, "We'll keep him locked up n' figure out a way to save him. Like we always do."
Gwen gave me a small smile.
"I fear that may not be so simple, Astra," the physician told me.
I clenched my jaw. Could he not say these things in front of Gwen?! I can't imagine the torment she must be feeling! He doesn't need to add fuel to the fire!
"Yeah, well, I like a challenge," I shot back, perhaps a bit more sharply than I should've.
My arms were crossed over the table with my head resting on them while I stared at Arthur. His gaze was fixed on a candle in front of him, his eyes still stormy and his lips pouty. I joined him for dinner in his room, figuring that he could use the support while going through these troubled times. I know that it couldn't have been easy to learn of his father's atrocious crimes, let alone learn that we could lose Elyan because of them.
I was a bit bummed that he's barely paid any attention to me since we sat down. Instead, he seemed lost in a world of his own. But complaining would've been hypocritical because I'm aware that I tend to space out a lot.
My attention was broken when Merlin started to clean up the table, showing up seemingly out of nowhere. He left at some point to check on Gwen.
Merlin glanced at Arthur and he sighed before gently saying, "It is not your fault. You cannot be held responsible for everything your father did."
Arthur looked up at him and let his gaze linger for a few moments. Then he looked back down. "That will be all, Merlin. Thank you."
My brother and I shared a worried glance.
"I think I am going to get an early night," the King added, his eyes darting between the two of us as he leaned back on his seat and pressed his lips.
"Yeah, I am pretty tired, what with having spent the night in the woods," Merlin responded.
"No one said anything about you getting an early night, Merlin," Arthur stated while narrowing his eyes at my brother. I lifted an eyebrow. "In fact, you can make up for your little escapade by polishing my armour."
Merlin raised his eyebrows at him and scoffed.
I rolled my eyes. "How 'bout you settle for me not throwing your armour into a horse poop cart if you let my best buddy rest," I challenged Arthur. His mouth fell agape. "I'm taking that as a 'yes'," I said and motioned for Merlin to get out before the King could say anything else. He didn't need to be told twice.
Arthur glared at me as he crossed his arms. I gave him an innocent grin and walked over to him, then I gently rounded his neck with my arms and guided his head to where it could rest against my chest, then I started to run my fingers through his soft hair. He sighed and wrapped his arms around my waist.
"Do you want me to stay again?" I asked in a whisper.
"It is all right, I will be fine," he assured me.
Sounds like I might get to have some me-time, then!
I let out a sigh and nodded, then I gently pushed him slightly away so that I could kiss his forehead. "Okay. I'll leave you to sleep, then."
Arthur nodded and removed his arms from around my body, then he stood up from his chair. Once again, I found myself being dwarfed by his height and I smiled up at him. He placed a gentle hand on my cheek and leaned down to kiss my lips.
"I love you, Astra," he whispered once he pulled away.
"I love you, too," I replied and quickly kissed him again. "Peaches," I added with a teasing smirk.
He rolled his eyes and kissed me one last time before moving towards his wardrobe. I chuckled and skipped out of the room.
Time to ask the Winchesters how we can deal with the spirit!