Camelot
April, 509 AD
Dragging his feet, Merlin returned to the physician's chambers one night after an emotionally tiring day. He had a constricted sensation in his heart and a lump in his throat that had him feeling as if he weighed way more than he really does. With a heavy sigh, he sat down at the kitchen bench and placed his head in his arms, not even acknowledging Gaius, who was cooking dinner.
The physician's attention alternated between the rice and vegetable stew on the stove and his ward for a few minutes as he gave the latter some time to settle down, and once he noticed him relaxing a little, he ventured to ask, "I take it Astra is not coming?"
"She said she's not hungry," Merlin responded in a mumble, the shrinking of his heart intensifying.
Gaius looked down, feeling a pang of worry. "When is the last time she had a proper meal?" he inquired softly.
"I wish I could tell you," the boy answered, "but I don't think even Arthur knows."
"Elyan's death affected her deeply," the physician noted with a sad sigh. "Almost as much as it did Gwen, I dare say."
"She blames herself," Merlin stated.
"But that is absurd!" Gaius cried. "I do not believe Gwen would be alive if Astra had not been there to distract the magic sword you spoke of."
Merlin ran a hand through his hair, frustration mixing with anxiety within him. "I agree, but no matter how much I try, I cannot convince her of that. She will not hear it from anyone."
"What can we do about it?" the elderly man wondered.
"I am not sure, but I have to do something before this gets out of hand," Merlin replied. Images of the memories of Astra nearly bleeding out in Gwen's home flooded his mind like a category five hurricane. "It scares me to see her like this again," he admitted in a whisper.
Gaius moved to place a hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze that silently communicated his support.
"Arthur is worried as well," Merlin continued. "He says that she keeps spacing out, and that she has been getting cynical with her work, and that she's avoiding Gwen at all costs..."
"Maybe she just needs to get out of her head for a little while," the physician suggested. "That girl thinks way too much for her own good."
Merlin puffed. "I tried to get her to watch a movie with me, but she said she didn't feel up for it."
"Well, I believe there is one thing that she will never say 'no' to," Gaius responded, giving a little encouraging grin. The sorcerer turned to him with a quizzical look. "That horse of hers."
Merlin allowed himself to smile a little as a plan started to form in his head.
I didn't fail to notice all the bewildered looks that courtiers, servants, knights, guards, and the like sent me – us – as Arthur carried me through the corridors of the castle, thrown over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, while I protested the violation of will, which fell on deaf ears.
I pulled my hoodie over my head as he stepped out of the building, seeking a little warmth when the morning coolness hit me and tousled my hair more than it already is.
"Arthur – seriously, I'm gonna kick you," I threatened.
He pressed his free arm against the back of my knees. "No, you are not."
"Fine, then I'll punch you," I grumbled before hitting his back with my fist – not hard enough to actually hurt him. That earned me a freaking giggle and I huffed in annoyance, resigning to whatever fate he's got planned for me.
I frowned when he finally put me down, realising that we were in the stables and finding that Dallas, Falcon, Tequila and Fallyn had been tacked up and were waiting patiently while munching on some hay. A pair of smiley friends – Merlin and Gwaine – stood to the side.
"What's goin' on?" I inquired.
"You need a break from being queen," Merlin replied. "So we thought you might appreciate the chance to run the cross-country course with a small audience."
My gaze jumped among my three human companions for a few moments, then I sighed and walked over to my horse, grinning a little when he nickered in greeting and nudged my hip with his nose before returning his attention to his food. I rubbed his shoulder and looked over my riding equipment, finding that it had been carefully placed on his back exactly the way we like it.
"I guess it'd be fun," I conceded, my voice almost as low as a whisper. Merlin and Gwaine exchanged a high-five and Arthur smiled.
"All right. Let us get going, then," my King said.
Twenty minutes later, I was cantering around a field as a way to warm up Dallas prior to the promised run. Gwaine and Fallyn moved some metres behind us – my best friend said that he wants to try cross-country as well. Merlin and Arthur and their horses remained on the sidelines, simply watching.
I steered my horse over to one of the smaller jumps, which is a simple log, and I gently took him over it, smiling at the smoothness with which he performed the task and rewarding him with a small piece of carrot.
I chuckled a little as Gwaine and Fallyn followed suit, both struggling a bit more than Dallas and I did since they're way newer to the sport than we are. Then I asked my Thoroughbred to canter again and brought him back around and over the jump.
After a final go, I was satisfied that Dallas's body was ready to take the strain from the higher, more demanding jumps and I trotted him over to where I know there's a metre-high stone wall. I asked him for a faster canter once I spotted it.
One second I was soaring over the meticulously piled stones with my horse, the next I was sideways on the ground. A throbbing pain shot through my arm and I grunted. Dallas skidded to a stop beside me. I spotted my saddle on the ground and I jumped to my feet and darted to check on it, wanting to ensure it wasn't broken. Only, before I could reach it, an arrow flew past my head, making me gasp, and I immediately moved to shield my horse to the best of my abilities.
"Astra!" "Trae!" I heard a collective scream coming from my human companions.
I turned to spot two men dressed in black and leather scraps rushing towards me, holding swords in their hands, and my stomach dropped when I realised that I don't have any weapons on me.
Luckily, Arthur and Gwaine – who'd both been smart enough to bring their swords – sprinted to my aid and they managed to knock down both attackers, leaving them unconscious and bleeding.
Merlin helped me up and I noticed his gaze lingering on my arm. I looked down to find that my white Marvel hoodie was covered in dirt. "It's just dirt, it'll come off," I informed him and gently shrugged off his hold.
A breathless Arthur rushed over to my side, pulling me into his arms and nuzzling into the crook of my neck. I could feel his body trembling. "Are you all right?" he asked.
"I should be asking you that. You're shakin' like an ultra-neurotic Yorkie," I responded and reached up to run my fingers through his hair in hopes that it would calm him down.
"I am fine as long as you are," he whispered in response.
"I'm okay," I assured him. "Wasn't my first fall, and I'm sure it won't be my last."
He nodded and kept me in his arms for another minute or two, then he finally released me, pressing a kiss to my forehead in the process. I responded with a small, forced smile before finally moving to retrieve my riding equipment and walking over to Dallas, who had been kind enough to remain by my side during the whole ordeal.
"Good boy," I said softly as I rubbed his shoulder and I gently placed his saddle pad on his back, then his gel half pad, and the saddle. "Son of a witch!" I exclaimed when I noticed that the buckles on one side of my girth were broken as I went to do it back up. I puffed and dropped my forehead to lean it against my horse's withers.
Great. Not only will our cross-country run have to be postponed, but I'll also have to walk home.
Well, I guess I can ride bareback and carry my equipment in my arms... Yeah, that sounds good.
By some miracle – also known as reminding him of my scars while giving him a frightened look (which was totally genuine, mind you) – I managed to convince Arthur not to force me to have Gaius check my arm. Merlin is exaggerating the severeness of the hit I took anyway.
We still ended up in the physician's apartment, though, as my King wanted to see if Gaius could tend to the attackers for the mere purpose of having them interrogated.
"I am sorry, Sire, the wounds are fatal. They will die before long," the physician concluded after a quick examination.
I gave a humourless chuckle and I stated, "We should bring some tranq. darts next time, instead."
"Those might be a bit hard to get, Trae," Gwaine pointed out with an amused look.
"I'm sure Pops could cook somethin' up," I retorted while grinning towards the physician, who seemed slightly alarmed for whatever reason.
Merlin casted me a pointed glance and then he said, "We know one thing – it cannot have been a coincidence that they were there."
Before anyone could respond, Leon bursted into the room.
"Sire – I took Astra's girth to the leatherworker like you asked," he stated in a grave tone, his eyes fixed on Arthur. I tilted my head in curiosity. "It has been unpicked and re-stitched. It was designed to break."
"What the hell!? That cost almost a hundred-n'-fifty dollars!" I protested while taking my girth from Leon. I got it custom-made as a treat for myself and Dallas following a championship we won during the winter of 2021.
Merlin scoffed. "Really?! That's what you are worried about?!"
I waved him off, returning my attention to a bewildered-looking Leon as I asked, "Can it be fixed?"
He took a puzzled glance around the room before nodding. "Yes, it can be."
Arthur took the girth from me and he handed it back to the knight. "Thank you, Leon."
The curly blond nodded and gave me one final wary look before leaving the room. Hopefully on his way back to the leatherworker.
"It appears, Merlin," Arthur turned to face my brother, "on this single solitary occasion, maybe you are right about this being no accident."
"Well, someone owes me some money," I grumbled.
"Astraea!" Gaius scolded.
"What? Money doesn't grow on trees!"
Gwaine stood up from where he'd been sitting at the kitchen bench and he placed a gentle hand on my shoulder as he addressed both my King and I, "I will question Tyr and find out if he knows anything."
Tyr is the stablehand who's specially tasked with making sure all horse tack is in prime condition. Though I doubt he might know anything about my stuff, 'cause I clean my equipment myself. Still, I nodded. "Sure. Thanks, buddy."
"Thank you, Gwaine," Arthur echoed.
"Well, I need a bath," I stated and exited the physician's apartment without another word.
My presence was required at the courtroom some two hours later since, apparently, Gwaine, Percival and Leon found some relevant information regarding Tyr – which is pretty puzzling because I can hardly believe that the guy might have a mean bone in his body, never mind have the guts and mental sharpness needed to plot a murder.
"The thread we found at the boy's home matches that used to sabotage the girth," Leon told Arthur and I.
Tyr's lip trembled under the gazes that fell on him, and he looked terrified out of his mind. Definitely not the look of a smug killer.
"Who put you up to this, Tyr?" Arthur interrogated.
"No one," Tyr promptly replied in a shaky voice. "No one has put me up to anything, Sire."
"You are saying you acted alone?" Arthur pressed. "Had no help? No accomplice?"
"I do not know anything about these things you are talking about," Tyr stated. I could tell he was close to crying. "I have done nothing Sire, save look after your tack like I always do."
"The evidence is staring you in the face. You cannot deny it," Arthur responded. The arm he had anchored around me tightened its hold.
"Maybe it's just a coincidence," I suggested in a whispered mumble.
"Sire – I swear on my mother's life–" Tyr started, but was cut off by Arthur moving closer to him with menacing strides.
"Just give me their name," he demanded. Tyr averted his gaze, his eyes glistening with tears. "Why protect them? They cannot help you now. Just give me their name."
The stablehand exhaled shakily. "I have no name. There is no name to give."
"Buddy, c'mon," I moved to stand beside Arthur as I addressed the guy. "I've known you since I first came to Camelot. You've always been kind and cool. I don't believe for a second that you would try to kill anyone." He started crying and I gulped at the sight. "If someone's threatening you, you can tell us. We'll help you."
He shook his head and let out a single sob, but I got no response.
Arthur slipped his hand into mine and gave it a gentle squeeze, then he addressed Tyr again, "Then you leave me no choice! Though it saddens me greatly to do so I must charge you with treason."
My eyes widened and my heart turned upside down. "Artie – hold on!"
"Astraea –" he said sternly, "we will talk about this later."
I dropped my head and clenched my jaw, trying to keep my breathing steady as a lump formed in my throat.
"Is there anything further you would like to say?" the King pressed the stablehand.
"You are my King, Sire. Astra is my queen. I would never do anything to hurt either of you. Never."
Arthur narrowed his eyes at the guy. My heart raced in anxiety while my eyes darted between them for a few moments before I let them become fixed on Tyr, trying to silently will him to tell the truth. Finally, my King sighed and he tightened his grip on my hand before returning to the throne, tugging me with him.
"Tyr Seward, by the power vested in me, I hereby sentence you to death," Arthur announced.
"What?!" I blurted out against my best judgement (I know that I shouldn't challenge my King's judgement in this way, but it just spewed out). My heart and lungs froze for a few seconds as guilt pooled in my stomach.
"Later," Arthur repeated in a grunt.
I watched helplessly as Percival and Leon dragged Tyr out of the room, presumably towards the dungeons; my soul feeling like it'd been stuffed with Olympic weights.
"Artie – please, there has to be another way!" I began as soon as we made it back to our room after the formalities were done with.
He seemed livid, his eyes wide and his face slightly flushed. "Astra – he almost got you killed!"
"Nothing I haven't done," I tried a joke, but it didn't land at all. If anything, it only aggravated him more.
"How can you even joke about that?!"
I sighed and averted my gaze as I moved to sit down on the bed, unable to stay on my feet any longer as my airways became constricted. "Look, I-I just don't want any more blood to be spilled," I said, now much more calmly. "Especially not because of m-me."
"Astra–!"
I cut him off before he could divert the subject to the topic of our most recent loss, "You saw his face, Art. He was freaked out of his bones. If he had something to do, I doubt he acted voluntarily. There's something else going on here n' you know it."
"Then he is still committing treason by not telling us the truth," Arthur argued, thankfully also dropping the intensity of his tone as he moved to sit beside me.
I bit down on my bottom lip to keep it from trembling and shook my head. I sighed heavily before responding, "Someone must have something on him. Something that's worse than death to him."
My guts warmed-up a little as Arthur carefully scanned my face for a few moments. "Like threatening the life of someone he loves," he said.
I nodded and pointed out, "He mentioned his mom earlier."
Arthur's lips curved upwards and he placed a warm hand on the side of my face. I instantly leaned into his touch and let out a sigh, relieving tension. "You know, you never fail to enchant me with your intelligence," he stated, causing my entire face to heat up and a small smile to form on my lips. But I shrugged it off, knowing that there are more important matters at hand than melting under his words.
"Let me talk to Tyr in private. Maybe he'll be willing to talk in a less public setting," I pleaded.
"No, absolutely not, there is still a chance that he might be dangerous."
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "Okay... What if we ask Merls and Gwaine to do it?" I suggested.
"Merlin?"
"He's a servant, not a knight. It might ease him up."
"All right," he said and I smirked in triumph.
"Well, Astra, you were right," Merlin stated as soon as he and Gwaine returned to Arthur and I's room after we'd tasked them with talking to Tyr.
"Don't sound so surprised. I'm a genius," I responded with a playful smirk.
"You're also humble," my brother mumbled.
"Obviously," I shot back with a wink, earning a chuckle from Gwaine.
"All right," Arthur interjected while casting the three of us a pointed look. "Enough. What did you find out?"
Merlin snorted before responding, "Right, well, the other night, when Chilaquil had that colic–"
My eyes widened and my veins froze over. "Chili had a colic?!"
"Yes..." my brother responded with a sheepish look.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?!"
"Because you're troubled enough as it is," he answered sternly.
"Bull-crap," I grumbled.
Arthur cut in authoritatively once more, "What happened next?"
"He spotted a cloaked figure entering the tack room and, when he went to investigate, he found someone fiddling with Dallas's equipment," Gwaine continued the tale.
"They threatened to kill his mother if he said anything," Merlin added.
"So he would rather die and protect her, than risk her life by telling us who it was," Gwaine finished.
"We must speak to him at once," Arthur stated as he looked down at me.
"Sounds like a plan," I responded and grabbed his hand. We moved to walk towards the door.
I started and recoiled when I noticed Gwen standing there, my eyes widening in surprise while the sinkhole of guilt in my chest made its presence known once more.
"How long have you been standing there?" I asked while averting my gaze, my voice almost as low as a whisper.
"I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help," she responded softly.
"Thanks, but I think we're good," I assured her, not really wanting to be in her presence, since I don't want to be a constant reminder of her brother's death, and I don't really feel like breaking down crying again.
"Are you sure it is wise to speak to Tyr at the moment?" she inquired.
I shared a confused look with Arthur.
"What d'ya mean?" I asked.
"He has told Merlin and Gwaine everything he is willing to say for now," she pointed out. "He is clearly frightened and unsure of what to do. But, perhaps, after a night in the cells he will be prepared to say more."
"She's got a good point," I told my King. "Maybe we should wait 'til tomorrow."
"All right," Arthur agreed with a nod.
"Thanks, Gwennie," I told my friend while offering a small, shy smile.
She nodded before leaving and I sighed, leaning against Arthur while feeling my insides churn again, exhaustion suddenly filling me after that short interaction which made me have to really fight against my tumultuous emotions.
"I will leave you to rest now, Sire," Gwaine said and he clapped my King in the shoulder before pulling me in for a quick hug and kissing the top of my head. "Try to get some sleep, kid," he whispered.
"Key-word: try," I responded in a mumble. He snorted and gave me a gentle squeeze before leaving.
"And I will fetch you some dinner," Merlin announced and he left the room before I could protest. I'm not exactly hungry, you see.
With a sigh, I dropped Arthur's hand and moved over to the bed, letting myself fall on it backwards. Arthur promptly lay down beside me, putting an arm around my waist as he pulled me against his body.
"Why does Gwaine call you 'kid'?" he asked in a whisper.
I shrugged. "No clue."
"It does not bother you?"
"Why would it?" I wondered. "My uncle used to call me that... So it feels comforting, in a way, I guess." He nodded in understanding. I frowned and questioned, "Does it bother you?"
He shook his head. "Not really, I simply found it strange. But I understand now."
I smiled a little and nuzzled into his chest, allowing myself to have a five-minute nap before Merlin returned with dinner.
The next morning brought the heart-wrenching news that Tyr passed away overnight. Or rather, that he was murdered – according to a stab wound that Gaius found on his chest as soon as he began inspecting him.
Arthur kneeled on the floor of the cold jail cell beside the physician and I stood behind him with a hopefully comforting hand on his shoulder.
"The blade punctured his heart," Gauis noted, causing me to squirm and avert my gaze from the blood-covered spot on the deceased stablehand's chest. "He suffered very little, I am glad to say."
Somehow, that doesn't make me feel much better.
"Have you spoken to the night patrols?" Arthur asked the knights of the round table, all of whom stood at the doorway sporting grievous expressions.
"They saw nothing unusual, Sire," Percival responded.
"What about the guards? Why did not they raise the alarm?"
I held back a remark on how the guards aren't especially bright (other than my friend Louis) and watched in curiosity as Leon approached us with a small partly-burnt item that looked like a poultice in his hand.
"Sire – we found this in a grate in the guard room," he announced.
Gaius promptly stood up and took the item from the knight, then he gave it a quick whiff. "Clary wort," he concluded. "A powerful soporific, Sire."
"Sopo- what?" I asked in a whisper while turning to my brother – who stood beside me – for answers.
"Night-night gas," he responded in the same manner.
I nodded in understanding and kneeled down next to Arthur, instantly finding that he looked totally wrecked by Tyr's death. If my own feelings are anything to go by, then he must be feeling guilty, too. I gently grabbed his hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. He sighed heavily and ran his free hand over his face before standing up, taking me with him.
The knights and Gaius left the dungeons, and now only my King, Merlin and I remained.
"I have been a fool," Arthur stated. "We should have spoken to him when we had the chance."
"Yeah," I sighed. "And I should've thought that this could happen."
"Do not start blaming yourself, Astra," Arthur scolded in a soft tone.
"Arthur, Astra –" Merlin called our attention, his voice grave. "Whoever did this is no stranger to Camelot. They knew the citadel inside out."
My eyes widened. He's right! This place is a maze! There's no way an outsider could've killed Tyr so discreetly!
"Morgana and Thanata?" I asked.
"How? Someone would have inevitably recognised them," Arthur pointed out.
"Morgana disguised herself as an old woman last time. Who's to say she didn't turn into, like, a cat or something this time?" I suggested. Then I added in a mumble, "In true Madame Mim fashion."
"A cat?" Arthur echoed while scrunching up his face.
"Yeah. Or a snake. Or a rhino!"
"Astra," Merlin scolded with a pointed look.
"I will send out a patrol to investigate," my King decided.
"Can I–?"
He cut me off in a grunt, "No."