Camelot
February, 508 AD
Pure adrenaline and bliss pumped through my veins, my heart pushing it out with fervent beats as an electrifying feeling spread through every one of my cells, bringing out a determined grin that felt permanently etched onto my face as my mind calculated the next few moves I'll have to make.
The early morning breeze caressed my face with playful whooshes, the cooling sensation only egging me on as the comfortable strain on my muscles caused my body to warm up despite the low temperature in the atmosphere.
My eyes landed on a jump placed in between two trees and I made clucking noises at Dallas to get him to speed up as the sturdy fallen log drew us towards itself almost as if it were a magnet. The trusty Thoroughbred delivered as he surged forwards with a powerful push of his hindquarters and, within seconds, we were soaring over the jump.
I was quick to collect him again after we landed, my hands working automatically to shorten their grip on the neck-rope as he continued to power forwards with mighty strides that would've put the Pegasus to shame. I asked him for a lead-change and he gladly obeyed. Then I loosened my hold again and allowed him to stretch over the dirt path as we blazed towards the next jump – a metre-high stone wall.
Dallas's ears perked up as he focused all his attention on the structure and he accelerated once more, eager to become airborne again. I gave him space to do whatever he needed to do and he soon took off in a harmonious leap that nourished my soul.
Laboured pants left me as I gradually worked to slow down the fantastic horse. His breathing was equally as heavy as he stretched his neck down and puffed with every oxygen expulsion. A thin layer of sweat covered his cream-coloured body and his veins jumped out even under his fluffy winter coat. I gently scratched his withers and gave him all the time he needed to regulate his vital signs.
When he finally came to a stop, I rewarded him with a full carrot I pulled out of my waist-bag and I allowed myself to smile fully as I glanced around us.
The knights certainly outdid themselves with their awesome wedding present – a carefully planned cross-country course built in the forest just outside the back gate to the horse paddocks!
My body tensed up at the distant sound of jingling metal and swooshing, and I pulled a small dagger out of my waist-bag, ready to defend myself as I fixed my gaze in the direction from which the noise was coming.
A big smile formed on my lips when Merlin and Falcon emerged from the tree line. Only, my brother didn't look too amused. In fact, he looked rather annoyed as his narrowed eyes fell on me.
"Even for you this is crazy," he accused as he brought the dark bay horse to a stop in front of my cremello.
I tilted my head, my smile not fading as I inquired, "What is?"
"Disappearing the morning after your wedding," he stated with a huff. "Arthur is worried sick!"
"I left a note!" I defended.
"Yes, one he couldn't understand," he said pointedly as he pulled out a scrunched-up paper from the pocket of his jacket.
I rolled my eyes as I took it from him and raised an eyebrow as I read what is on it.
'Went XC-ing w/Dal. Brb.'
My eyes travelled upwards to make contact with my brother's, then back towards the college-lined paper, then up again.
"Okay, I see how this could've been confusing," I conceded.
"Lucky for you, Gwen and I were able to decipher it! Otherwise there would be a whole search party out for you!" he continued as he scrutinised me with his stare.
I giggled and gave him a nonchalant shrug. "Sorry. I just needed to relax for a while."
"And breaking your neck is the way to do that?!"
A scoff pushed past my lips and I argued, "Cross-country is a perfectly fine and legit sport, thank you very much." He narrowed his eyes at me again. "And it helps me get out of my mind."
"What is wrong with your mind?"
"You've been in it, you tell me," I responded with a smirk.
Annoyance instantly turned to concern as my brother's hardened stare softened and an empathetic grin formed on his lips. "Is it troubling you again?"
I shook my head. "Not in the way it used to. It's just a bit overwhelmed... I woke up really early. Maybe four, but I'm not sure 'cause... y'know... I left my phone in my room..." I looked away again as the events from yesterday flooded my mind with images: getting freaking married, getting freaking crowned, slow-dancing with Arthur, sneaking away with some of my friends to play kickball in the courtyard, karaoke-ing with the knights and Prince Benjamin, introducing the people from Gawant to coffee... and my cheeks warmed up furiously when I recalled the latest part of the night, and how perfectly gentle and sweet my King was through everything. "And I started thinkin' about stuff, and things just spiralled from there," I finished in a mumble while playing with Dallas's mane.
Merlin suddenly jumped off Falcon and he took off his bridle, loosened the girth, and secured the stirrups. Then he waved me over towards a large pine tree. "Well, talk to me, then."
With a big grin forming on my lips again, I leaped off Dallas, removed his neck-rope and saddle, and I let him loose to graze alongside his friend before joining my brother sitting under the tree.
I rested my head against his shoulder as I let my eyes roam the open space around us, the perfection of nature filling my spirit with peace and energy even though my body was incredibly exhausted – something I only then realised as the adrenaline from my run with Dallas began to wear off.
Feeling Merlin's expectant gaze on the side of my face, I let out a sigh and turned to face him as I stated, "Well, I've been incredibly selfish." He frowned. "I mean, all this time, I've been worried about the difficulties and sacrifices that come with being queen... And I didn't realise how much I can do to change things."
"Like what?" he questioned.
"Your life, for starters," I responded. He tilted his head in confusion and I breathed out a chuckle before explaining, "I'm not saying it'll be instantaneous or easy, but I can change the laws on magic, Merls. You could be free one day."
"How? Arthur is completely set against magic."
"Not as much as he used to be," I countered. "Remember the ghost druid boy? Maybe we can start by getting him to allow druids to live in Camelot again as long as they don't practice magic, and then we can slowly build up to him allowing them to practice it when it comes to healing, and then that can gradually spread to other magic people, and so on..."
A glimmer of hope shone in Merlin's eyes and we exchanged a grin.
"Well, this certainly isn't the craziest thing you have thought up," he noted with a teasing smile.
I laughed and rolled my eyes. "It can work, Merls! I know it can! We just need to come up with a more structured plan!"
He threw an arm over my shoulders and pulled me closer to kiss the top of my head. "And we will. But for now, we should get back to the castle before Arthur stops functioning," he noted before letting go and standing up.
I giggled as he helped me up.
"Seriously, Astra – what were you thinking of running off to play on the morning after your wedding?"
Merlin graciously agreed to cover for me in front of the guests (who were currently gathered in the grand hall for a fancy brunch) so that I could have a quick bath; seeing as I am covered in sweat and some dirt from my early morning adventures with my horse. I rushed up to my room, using one of the back staircases intended for servants. My feet skidded to a stop when I found Arthur pacing right outside. I gulped at the sight. His skin was a tone or two paler than it should be, his eyes were slightly bloodshot, and his shoulders were tense.
A tornado of guilt swept my insides and I took a deep breath before moving closer.
"Hey, Artieee," I said in a meek voice as I reached him, cowering a little out of fear that he might be angry.
He instantly stopped his restless movement as he turned to face me. His gorgeous features washed over with relief. "Astra," he breathed out before closing the distance between us in a sprint and swooping me up in his arms – despite all the grime that covered me. I quickly wrapped my arms and legs around him as he held me tightly to his body.
"I'm sorry, I should've left a clearer note," I mumbled against his shoulder.
He let out a shaky sigh and he gently set me down, his hands moving to cup my face as he stared deep into my eyes. I instantly felt my face get warm under his stare and I cowered once more. "What happened? Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I assured him. "I just woke up early, and I couldn't get back to sleep, and I got bored, and I thought I'd take Dal out for a spin."
That explanation seemed to be good enough for him and whatever troubling thoughts might have been swimming in his mind seemed to disappear as a smirk formed on his lips. He leaned down to rest his forehead against mine and he whispered, "You could have woken me up and we could have done something together."
"It was six in the morning," I pointed out. "The darkness wouldn't have let us read comfortably, and I doubt your mind would've been sharp enough for a game of chess."
"I meant something else," he stated and winked. I raised an eyebrow. He snorted and leaned closer to brush his lips against mine as he said, "Like continuing our wedding celebration…"
My eyes widened as my nervous system heated up at the insinuation, causing me to recoil, and I gave his arm a weak punch. "Shut up."
He chuckled and pulled me back against his chest before kissing me properly. I melted as his scorching touch continued to turn my veins into rivers of lava and I wrapped my arms around his neck to draw him closer. "How are you feeling, by the way?" he asked when he pulled away, his thumb softly rubbing against my cheek. I tilted my head in confusion. "After last night..." he clarified with a small smile as his cheeks reddened slightly.
The warmth swarming my body surpassed the temperature of a supernova core and I averted my gaze as my lips curved upwards at the memories. "I'm okay."
"Good," he whispered before kissing my forehead, then he scrunched up his nose slightly. My hand acted on its own as I booped it, and I giggled at the realisation that he probably just then noticed the grimy after-effects that come with a cross-country run.
"I did just spend an hour doing cardio in the woods," I pointed out and reached up to kiss the side of his jaw before moving towards my door.
"Where are you going?!" he questioned in alarm as he moved to stand right beside me.
"Narnia. Where'd ya' think?" I shot back, causing him to frown in disapproval. "I'm gonna take a bath. I'll be down for breakfast asap."
"A-sap?"
"As soon as possible," I explained with a small giggle.
He pouted a little, then he sighed and nodded. He leaned down and gave me one last soft kiss before walking away. I stared after him until he disappeared at a turn down the corridor and my heart suddenly broke out in a circus performance.
My husband…
I won life, everyone else can go home.
Elena raised an eyebrow as she turned to look at me, appearing unimpressed. "That does not look too exciting, sister," she commented. Her gaze moved back to the forty-centimetres-high crossrail jump that was set up in the middle of the riding arena.
Merlin snorted in amusement from beside a jump standard while I let out a puff.
"Jumpin' isn't like racin', sis," I responded. "You can't just charge at it and pray for the best. Ya' gotta be a lot more calculating or you'll end up on the ground."
"Why is that?" she inquired.
"Because of a little vital thing we like to call distances," I responded with a big grin.
She gave me a puzzled look and I huffed at the realisation that I would need to explain further.
"Basically, ya' wanna place the horse's front hooves on a spot from where it's comfy to take off," I said and I hopped off Shakespeare before walking up to the cross-rail and standing some three metres away from it. "If you ask them to jump from here, chances are they're gonna take a big leap and catapult you off, or they'll stop and send you flying over it on your own." Then I moved to stand right against the poles. "On the other hand, if you ask them to jump from here, they'll do a very awkward hop and get hit, or they'll stop as well." I turned to make eye-contact with my friend and she nodded in understanding. "So you wanna make sure that you get them to take off from around here," I moved to stand about a metre away from the base of the jump, "and that'll ensure a smooth jump."
"How do I achieve that?" Elena questioned.
"Well, that's the tricky part, and it's a skill that's developed with experience; but basically, you adjust the length of their strides by either stretching them or compressing them depending on what you find is needed to get to that spot," I explained and I got back on Shakespeare.
I gathered the reins and asked him for a canter. He delivered eagerly and cruised along the edge of the arena before I gently turned him onto the jump. As is usual with him, I felt him eagerly speed up underneath me and I held him back. One... two... three– I slid my hands slightly up his neck as I stood on my stirrups and allowed him to take the small leap that the little crossrail demanded. I slowed him down as we landed smoothly on the other side and I rewarded him with a piece of carrot when he stopped completely.
"'Speare tends to get over-excited, so I usually have to hold him back and keep his strides short; or else he'd just crash against the jump," I mentioned as I returned to Elena's side. "Ella's much calmer and way more versatile."
"All right, I think I have got it," the Princess said as she nudged Cinderella onwards and asked her to canter.
I shared an amused glance with Merlin as the small-but-powerful mare glided over the sandy ground, her ears focused on the blonde on her back as she waited for further instruction. Elena steered the dark bay towards the jump and I saw her tense up as she tightened her grip on the reins. Feeling the constriction, Ella instinctively slowed into a trot just some metres away from the cross-rail and hopped over it in a disorganised manner.
Elena turned to me while biting down on her bottom lip, looking slightly disappointed.
"Rome wasn't built in a day, sis. Let's keep tryin'."
I placed the rectangular cardboard box I brought on the table and a crowd of intrigued gazes fell on me as I tilted it sideways to reveal what it contained – a game of Cluedo!
I slid onto the chair right next to Arthur's and gave him a little grin, which he returned as he placed a hand on my knee.
"What is that?" Prince Benjamin asked with a frown as he stared at the box.
"It's a murder mystery game," I explained with a smirk and slid it over to him. "Someone murdered someone, somewhere, with something; and ya' gotta figure out who, where, and with what."
Benjamin examined the box, his features full of curiosity, and Cynebald scooted closer to him so that he could inspect it as well. The Saxon Prince hummed, "Well, this lady has an especially suspicious look about her and... What is she holding?"
I all but threw myself onto the table to snatch back the box as I suddenly remembered that one of the characters in the illustration on the lid is holding a flashlight. "The clues aren't in the image," I noted, deciding to ignore the question regarding the electric device. "There's a whole set-up inside that will gradually bring about the investigation."
Not wanting anyone else to overanalyse the picture, I opened the box and let its contents fall onto the table before hiding it under my chair. I could feel Arthur's questioning gaze on the side of my face, but I didn't acknowledge it as I retrieved the rule book and cleared my throat before starting to read it aloud.
I was just starting to explain the gameplay when Elyan interrupted – "What is this?"
My gaze travelled upwards and my breath hitched when I saw him holding the little cardboard gun that comes with the game. I really should've thought this through!
"It is called a gun. It works similarly to a crossbow, only it is smaller," Merlin swiftly jumped in to save my butt.
I nodded and sent him a grateful look as the knight nodded in understanding. Thankfully, no further questions were asked on the subject. I took a deep breath before continuing to read the rules.
"Also, we're gonna have to pair up 'cause there are only six characters," I mentioned once I was done.
Merlin and I instantly made eye-contact and smirked at each other.
Arthur sneaked an arm around my waist, stealing away my focus. "I think it is only fair that I get to play with my beautiful queen," he stated while glaring at my brother.
I wanted to correct him with 'Knight-Queen', but my body betrayed me by making my face warm up to a million degrees and my heart did a couple of back-flips. I looked down, trying to shield the effect that his words had on me.
"That's fine. I think you broke her, anyway," I heard my brother say.
"Hey!" I protested and I grabbed a dice off the table, flinging it at him. He barely dodged it while laughing heartily.
The rest of my friends broke out in laughter as well and I slumped in my seat while crossing my arms and clenching my jaw. Yes, they can laugh all they want. But they're definitely gonna get their butts kicked in the game because I have an advantage – I've played it before and I'm darn good at it!
Arthur gave my knee a gentle squeeze and leaned closer to me. "We can put him in the stocks, if you want to," he whispered in my ear.
I giggled for a second as I turned to face him, but then my breath hitched when I saw how close he was to me. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but the way in which he makes my senses go crazy seems to have increased tenfold now that we're married.
Married...
I ran my thumb over the ring on my finger.
Fork, we really are married! Life is awesome!
Remembering that we're not alone, I forced myself to straighten up and put on a smirk as I responded, "I just might."
"If you two are done acting like lovesick fools, we would like to start the game," Merlin said loudly, causing me to startle.
"Oh, yeah, we're putting 'em in the stocks," I said under my breath before crossing my arms over the table and giving my best friend a challenging look, which he mirrored instantly as he leaned slightly forwards, a grin playing on his lips.
I noticed that some people had shuffled places as they had paired up. Gwaine was next to Benjamin; an unlikely friendship that I find adorable. Elena and Cynebald had naturally teamed up, as had Elyan and Percival and the knights of Gawant, Sir John and Sir Logan. Lastly there was the trio of Merlin, Gwen and Leon.
"Bring it on, you twig!" I yelled at my brother.
The biggest hazard that comes with being a friend of Princess Elena of Gawant is that you often find yourself lacking oxygen thanks to the tight, passionate hugs that she tends to give. I could've complained but, well, I was too busy trying not to suffocate as she squeezed me half to death.
"Oh, how I hate parting with you!" she exclaimed as she finally let me go.
I took a deep breath to restore my lung function before grinning at her and replying, "Well, you're always welcome to visit!"
"The same goes for you," she told me with a soft smile, which quickly morphed into a stern expression. "And write to us the next time your evil half-sister-in-law tries to kill you and we will send an army!"
I doubled over with laughter, unable to help myself in the face of her quoting the title I used for Morgana in an earlier, more private, conversation with her. And the fact that she wasn't at all discreet with her statement caused multiple heads – including a bewildered Arthur – to turn her way.
"Let's hope there isn't a next time," I noted once I was able to compose myself.
Elena gave me another hug before walking straight towards Arthur – who'd since gone back to chatting with Cynebald and Merlin.
I watched with widened eyes as she gripped his upper arm tightly and gave him a deadly glare. He turned to her with a slightly (actually, very) horrified expression while recoiling and his body tensed up.
"If you ever so much as make my sister spill one single sad tear, you can expect to see the knights of Gawant standing alongside your own knights; ready to cut you to pieces," she threatened in a hiss.
I tried to keep a straight face (no, I didn't). Really, I did! (Nope). But, well, you know me... I broke down laughing again as I shuffled closer to them and leaned against Arthur. He didn't even move as he stared at my friend while blinking rapidly. I shared an amused look with my brother, who was cackling as well.
"You can expect to see me there as well," Cynebald doubled down while giving my King a playfully stern look. "We have claimed Astra as family."
Laughter left me as quickly as it came and I was left staring at the Saxon prince as my lips parted and my heart started to warm up.
Crap, my life has really been turned on its head ever since that fateful day working on that stupid science fair project, huh?!
When Arthur kissed me for the first time, I didn't think that life could get any better. But here I am three years later: married to him and standing by his side while facing three people who also came into my life out of nowhere and accepted me as I am, without conditions.
I mean, yeah, they're jokingly almost waging war on Camelot, but... details.
And the awesomeness of life doesn't stop there, 'cause I also have the knights of the round table, and Gwen, and Gaius, and Hunith, and the dragons... and I know I can count on my 'real' family back home if I ever find myself in trouble. And, to put the cherry on top – I still have Dallas!
"Darling – are you all right?" Arthur's sweet voice pulled me out of my head and I looked up at him before nodding and I quickly wiped away the tears that I realised had escaped my eyes.
"Yeah, sorry. I'm allergic to emotions," I tried a joke, which landed beautifully as Elena and Cynebald exchanged a look before laughing.
Fresh out of the bathtub, wearing a newly cleaned PJ set, and wrapped in my Avengers blanket; I crawled into bed and nestled down beside Arthur, who was quick to wrap an arm around my waist and hold me close to his side as he let out a sigh and kissed the top of my head.
"I'm exhausted," I mumbled as I turned to nuzzle into his chest while hugging his waist.
"I thought you were having fun," he said as he slowly ran a hand up and down the side of my torso, leaving a strangely pleasant tingling sensation in the process.
"I was. It was great to have 'em here. But my social battery has reached negative numbers."
"Your social what?"
Darn you, twenty-first century brain!
"Uh. Energy?" I tried.
"Right," he chuckled softly. "So how do we fix that?"
I sighed. "Well, usually I isolate myself and have some me-time. But I kinda really don't wanna leave your side right now. So I'll just go to sleep."
He slipped a warm hand under my chin and lifted it to make eye contact. "Already? It is not that late, you know?" he pointed out, then he leaned down to kiss the tip of my nose before he straightened back up with a grin.
"Well, I guess we could read a little," I said as I pressed myself closer to his side and nuzzled back into his chest, relishing in the warmth he naturally provides.
"Read?"
I nodded. "You still workin' through 'The Hobbit'?"
Arthur let out a sigh and he shifted slightly. I glared up at him, annoyed that he was shaking me out of the comfortable position I carved out for myself, and he snorted ever so slightly as he reached to grab something off his bedside table. The book, obviously. As quickly as he'd moved, he was back to holding me against his side while he used his free hand to manoeuvre the novel.
"I do not like that it revolves around magic, though," he mentioned as he casted the bookmark aside.
Well, what a convenient opportunity to make my first play for the future Merlin and I discussed a few days ago…
"But a lot of it is good magic, Peaches," I countered.
"How can that be, Astraea?!" he asked, sounding absolutely alarmed.
I shifted so that I could look at his pretty face again. "I don't think all magic's bad," I responded with a nonchalant shrug. "I mean, remember when we used that magic cup you stole from the druids to heal a bunch of injuries I had? And it was also used to save Leon's life..."
"Yes, then it was used to invade Camelot," Arthur shot back, not looking any more relaxed.
I grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it in an attempt to calm him down, then I answered, "Which means that whether magic's good or bad depends on the user."
He blinked rapidly for a few moments, his eyes never leaving mine. Then he gulped and asked, "How long have you thought of it in this way?"
Oh, crap, is he gonna want to divorce me now?! This will be the shortest marriage ever! I shouldn't have brought this up! But I'm in too deep now.
"Since I found out that magic's real..." I responded in a meek voice.
Arthur frowned. "Is magic legal in Armarka?"
"No, I don't think we even have magic," I answered. "Maybe we do. I dunno. I never encountered it until I came here."
He hummed. "It must be a very peaceful place, then."
At that, I bursted out laughing once more; earning a bewildered look as I let myself fall onto my back and a few tears escaped my eyes. "Peaceful. That's hilarious!" Laughter break. "America? Peaceful?" Laughter. "Please!"
"You concern me sometimes," Arthur stated while looking down at me with a quirked eyebrow and a small grin.
My brain sobered up at the sight of his enchanting eyes and I curled up next to him again while giving him an innocent smile. "You love me, though," I said.
The weird look he was giving me faded in an instant and a heart-melting smile claimed his soft lips. "I do. I love you so, so much."
Crisis averted.
"Well, I love you three-thousand," I fired back with a smirk.
"And I love you three-thousand-and-one."
"Oh, yeah? I love you three-thousand-and-two."
"I love you three-thousand-and-three."
I took a nanosecond off our ping-pong game to giggle before retaliating, "I love you three-thousand-million."
Amusement grew in his face and he gently pushed me onto my back again, moving to hover over me. My heart-rate sped up. "I love you three-thousand-trillion," he said.
I wrapped my arms around his neck. "I love you three-thousand-trillion to the three-thousand-trillionth power."
"What does that mean?" he asked while scrunching up his face.
"That I win!" I chirped.
"Cheeky woman," he whispered before uniting our lips in a sweet kiss that gradually started growing into something else.
That's fine. I didn't wanna sleep, anyway.