Camelot
July, 508 AD
A frustrated sigh escaped me as Dallas and I passed under the archway to the equestrian facilities of the castle with Gwaine and Fallyn right behind us. The knight sported an expression similar to the one I imagine I held – disillusion with a side of dread.
I let my gaze return ahead and I swallowed thickly when I noticed Arthur and Merlin waiting by my horse's paddock, the latter looking uneasy until our eyes connected, his filling with hope. I shook my head discreetly and his face fell, then he dropped his head.
"My beautiful Knight-Queen!" Arthur exclaimed with a soul-healing smile when I turned my attention onto him. I did my best to return the gesture while fearing that he could tell it was disingenuous. Not that his words didn't warm my heart. They did. I'm just too cornered by the monsters of worry and disappointment to give way to any other emotion.
"Hey, Artie," I greeted in return and hopped off Dallas once I was close enough to him, instantly going to hug him. His strong arms returned the embrace and I was able to catch a glimpse of a distant relative of peace as I breathed him in, noticing that he probably had a bath not too long ago given the prominent scent of soap that reached my lungs.
Before long, I turned to look at my brother (without separating much from Arthur), and gave him an apologetic look.
"What did you find?" Arthur asked Gwaine and I.
I shared an annoyed glance with the knight and he responded, "It was just a bear attack. The victim had been carrying a torch, which is what caused the scorch marks."
We got a report of a wild animal attack two days ago and he and I were quick to run to check out the site, hoping that Aithusa might've had something to do with it. Really wishful thinking made me pray that she'd killed her captor and managed to break free. But, y'know, like Thanos said, 'reality is often disappointing'.
"Judging by the footprints, likely a mama bear defendin' her babies," I added with a grimace. Disappointing or not, we still have to give a complete report.
"Did you put the villagers' minds at ease and ensure it will not happen again?" my King inquired.
"Yeah," I responded blankly, "we told 'em not to go botherin' wild animals."
Arthur's eyes widened as he looked down at me and I offered a shrug.
"In a more tactful manner, Sire," Gwaine quickly stepped in while giving me a pointed look.
"All right," my King seemed satisfied by that. "Get some rest, you two," he said before kissing the top of my head.
I sighed and glanced around at the neighbouring paddocks, knowing that I have to take a bunch of horses out for a spin. And then I will probably have to deal with queenly crap. I could feel myself suffocating already. Screw responsibilities – I just wanna find Aithusa!
"No can do. Gotta work," I mumbled and pushed away from Arthur.
He caught my arm before I got too far. "You have been working too hard, my love. Give yourself a break."
"I'm fine." I shrugged off his hand and hurried to get away before he could try to stop me again.
One night about a week later, Gwen gathered Merlin, Gaius, Gwaine and I in the physician's chambers. We laid out a game of Monopoly atop the kitchen table, since we needed an excuse for what we're doing in case anyone barged in; and then we sat down.
The 'girl-in-the-chair' sported a smile, something that has become unusual among us lately. So, naturally, hope swelled in my chest that she may have acquired any information regarding Aithusa's whereabouts.
"Well," she began as she revealed an envelope, "it appears that our scheme might have been fruitful."
I couldn't hold back a gasp as I reached for the folded paper while sharing a big grin with my brother. Sure enough, the letter was addressed to 'H. H. Haddock III' – a character we made up (or, I guess, borrowed) so that we can make inquiries about anyone involved with dragons while hiding behind that name. We knew that it was a long shot but, apparently, the odds are in our favour for the first time in two months.
My three greatest friends and my grandpa figure moved to stand behind my chair as I eagerly scanned the letter.
I dropped some tension off my shoulders and was unable to stop the chuckle of disbelief that escaped me. Perhaps it's not a sure shot, but it's the best we've gotten in a while and I'm gonna squeeze it for all the juice it can give.
The letter contained a message regarding a fearsome trader by the name of 'Ygor', who will be holding a sort of super-secret garage sale somewhere in the Feorre Mountains. Gaius was quick to recount that the man worked under Uther during the Great Purge, capturing dragons in exchange for large sums of gold.
I shot out of my seat and jumped to hug Merlin, who was quick to return the tight embrace while letting out a chuckle. "It worked, Merls! It really worked!"
"Your crazy ideas are not so crazy, after all," he noted in a teasing tone.
I laughed again, my heart feeling like it could do its job again, and I kissed my brother's cheek before separating from him so that I could also hug Gwen, Gaius and Gwaine. I know that Merlin and I would be much worse off without their unconditional help.
"All right," the knight said once the affection fest was over, "so how are we going to approach Arthur about this?"
Merlin nudged my side and winked when I looked up at him. "Lead the way, Miss-Not-So-Crazy."
I smirked and focused my eyes on the Monopoly board as a plan started to form in my mind.
Arthur quirked an eyebrow at me after he was done reading a carefully crafted letter. "How did this end up in your hands?"
I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant as my legs swung slightly from where I sat atop his desk. "I dunno. It was in the pile of royal business stuff."
"But dragons are extinct, my love," he pointed out with a faint scoff. "Surely this is some kind of prank, or worse."
"Pops said that this Ygor dude is for real! He worked for your dad n' all!" I quickly countered.
"I have no doubt that he is real," Arthur conceded. "However, I do not think he is selling dragon eggs."
"Well, this Haddock guy seems sure... And if he's right, it won't be pretty for us if he gets what he wants."
"I am not going to take the knights on a pointless quest," my King retorted with a shake of his head.
Man, Merlin and I must harbour psychic abilities of some kind, 'cause Arthur is reacting exactly as we predicted. My stomach churned. I know that I'm viciously lying to the man I love. But it has to be done. For Aithusa.
I puffed, stood up, and began to pace the length of the room. "Well, then let me go with Gwainester!"
"Absolutely not, Astraea. These men could be dangerous, I am not sending my queen to face them." He stood up and moved towards me, grabbing my upper arms and forcing my intentional pacing to stop. "I cannot lose you. Especially not to something as improbable as this."
I'm gonna spend an eternity in the lowest circle of hell. So, y'know, I'll just get sent back to high school on a loop forever.
"We can go undercover, keep a low profile," I argued. "No one will suspect a thing. We'll search the place, and if there are no signs of any dragon eggs, we'll turn around and come right back. Easy peasy."
Arthur clenched his jaw and looked away.
"C'mon, Artie. If Haddock is right, they will use it against you. I can't stand to lose you anymore than you could stand to lose me," I pleaded while giving him my best puppy look.
He still seemed unsure.
"Please? We won't make a move if we find anything. We'll wait for backup. How does that sound?" I tried one more time.
He sighed. Bingo. "All right, but you must promise me that you will be very careful."
"I promise."
"Say the whole thing, Astraea," he demanded.
"I promise we will be completely careful."
Arthur pulled me to his chest, hugging me tightly as he let out a shaky exhale.
"You look like a pretentious douchebag who just raided a thrift store," I said in between chuckles as I eyed Gwaine up and down after he re-emerged from behind some trees, where he went to change. I only got confused looks from him and Merlin in response, and I waved them off.
You see, to really sell the 'H. H. Haddock' character, the knight agreed to dress up in Viking-style clothes, which Gwen made for him out of expensive fur and leather. I dressed up similarly (only, I didn't wanna wear animal stuff, so my clothes are a bit simpler), playing the part of his sister.
Merlin (whom we managed to sneak into the quest, under the pretence that he was going to tend to some made-up sickness in some village on behalf of Gaius) got to keep his normal clothes since, sadly, he will be playing the part of our servant. It's our best option, though, because we wouldn't be able to sell him as our brother. Gwaine and I at least have the hazel/green eyes and brown hair in common.
"Come on, let us get going," the knight stated with a smirk.
We promptly got back on our horses – I took Shakespeare this time, not wanting Dallas to be recognised; and Gwaine took Cinderella, for the same reason with Fallyn – and we continued making our way towards the spot where 'H. H. Haddock' was told Ygor will be setting up. We're only some two hours away now.
In contrast with the sorrow that has been haunting us during the past two months, a lighter air surrounded us this time under the feeling of near-certainty that we might finally find Aithusa.
In the distance, we spotted an arrangement of small brown tents connected to a larger one in the middle of a corded off section that had a dozen or so guards posted along it. The place didn't look too crowded, but it wasn't completely deserted, either. In any case, we felt confident as we approached, for we have the right to be here. We managed to secure an invitation for our character and his companions, after all.
"Remember, no talking unless it's absolutely necessary," Merlin whispered to me as we hopped off our mounts.
"Yes, I know, mom," I responded with a playful eye-roll.
Of course, my American accent could easily give me away; and I can't fake a British one to literally save my life.
"Invitation?" a guard grunted when Gwaine approached him asking to enter the super-secret garage sale.
The knight quickly produced the letter we got from Ygor himself, which the man carefully inspected. Then he eyed Merlin and I quizzically. "My sister and my servant," Gwaine promptly told him.
"Very well, you can go in."
So in we went, and we exchanged triumphant smiles once our backs were to the guard.
Nothing could have prepared me for the horror fest that stood inside the tents. There were pitiful famished trolls trapped inside cages, all sorts of animals chained around, what I think were satanic ornaments hanging from the ceiling, witchcraft objects, and the worst part – people being sold as slaves. Some of them as young as maybe ten. My heart clenched and I instantly felt nauseated.
We need to free all these beings. And a quick glance to my companions let me know that they were thinking the same thing. However, we can't do so yet. First we have to find Aithusa.
Gwaine asked a random man where we could find Ygor, and we were promptly pointed towards a secluded tent in the distance, which was separated from the 'main' makeshift building.
Ygor was a tall and heavy man, with abundant black wavy hair, a greying beard, a slightly hunched back, and an eye-patch. His remaining eye was crystal blue and completely cold. Calculating. Mistrusting.
"H. H. Haddock, sir," Gwaine introduced 'himself' and offered a handshake; but the man simply looked at his hand in disgust and grunted before nodding towards Merlin and I with a questioning look. "My sister and servant."
"Tell them to get out. This is between you and I," Ygor growled.
I tensed up and glanced up at Gwaine with a wary look. He was quick to give me a reassuring smile. "I will be all right, kid. Take Stoick and have a look around in the meantime."
(Stoick is the pretend name that Merlin picked for himself, sticking to our theme.)
I sighed and nodded in response before grabbing my brother's arm and dragging him out of the tent, my heart racing in worry for the friend we left behind.
"He will be all right," Merlin echoed in a whisper as he gave me a quick side hug.
"He better be," I mumbled under my breath.
Not really wanting to go back inside the big tent and see the horrors within once more, we remained in the field and waited for Gwaine to return to us.
Thankfully, he did so not ten minutes later. And he sported a sorrowful expression that caused my stomach to drop.
"I am sorry. He swears that dragons are extinct," he told us in a whisper.
"No, c'mon, he's gotta be lying!" I protested quickly.
Gwaine placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it gently. "I do not believe he was, Trae." His eyes darted to Merlin, whose teary stare was fixed on the ground. "Merlin – I am so sorry."
Perhaps the optimism I had been feeling would've remained in my heart for a bit longer if I didn't know how well Gwaine can read people. Instead, my hopes crumbled to the ground like a faulty game of Jenga.
"We knew this could happen," Merlin said softly while pulling me in for a hug. "Thank you for trying," he told Gwaine, who responded with a sad grin.
"Yeah, thank you," I echoed softly.
"Anything for my greatest friends."
I remained in my brother's arms while I gathered the strength to keep going. Then, after a few minutes, I pushed away, wiped the few tears that had escaped my eyes, and sighed shakily before looking at my companions again. "All right. Let's free all those animals and people, n' get out of here."
A groan left me when I felt a pounding headache and I squeezed my eyes shut for a few moments before re-opening them. It didn't take me more than a second to realise that I was in some sort of jail cell… only, I couldn't see a door.
"So... That didn't work out," I mumbled when my eyes connected with Merlin's worried ones. He sat against the wall and my head lay on his lap.
I heard the distinct sound of Gwaine chuckling dryly and my gaze darted to find him sitting across from us. A wave of relief passed through me as I saw that he's also all right. "No, it did not," he commented.
I huffed and sat up, trying to ignore the dizziness that filled me as the grimy grey room spun slightly. "Where the heck are we?" I wondered, realising that our surroundings are entirely made of stone, save for a small barred window towards the top of the room; some four metres above the ground. My breath hitched.
"No idea. We were knocked out as well," Merlin responded.
"Okay, awesome. This is exactly how I've always wanted to spend my birthday," I quipped with a fake smile.
Gwaine scoffed and shook his head. "Always with the sarcasm."
"Well, at least I'm not back in high school," I noted with a shrug and then I scrambled to my feet, figuring that I could try to peek out the window if only I could manage to reach it. But I soon realised that the wall is too smooth, and there's no way I might be able to climb it.
"Perhaps if you stand on my shoulders you will be able to reach," Gwaine proposed, suddenly appearing at my side.
"Stand on your shoulders!? D'ya wanna break your back!?"
"You weigh nothing, Trae," he waved me off. "Besides, it is the only chance we have at getting out of here."
I gave him a wary look while biting down on my bottom lip.
"I know you are great at climbing, sweetheart. Come on," he pressed.
"Fine," I grumbled, figuring that it is indeed our best shot.
Moments later, after getting a little help from Merlin, I stood on Gwaine's shoulders like a deranged acrobat and I looked out the window. I instantly frowned when I realised that right past the bars extended a plain of grass. Which meant that...
"Crap, I think we're partly underground," I said. My heart-beat accelerated.
"Can you see any landmarks?" my brother inquired.
The terrain was rugged and surrounded by tall peaked mountains with snowed tops. Nature bloomed under the partly cloudy summer sky, and I could see a bird of prey flying in the distance, probably hunting for its next meal.
"We're still in the mountain range," I replied. "Or a mountain range," I added in a mumble. "How long were we out?"
"No more than a day, or we would be starving," Gwaine pointed out.
"Do you not have your phone?" Merlin questioned.
I huffed in realisation and leaped off my human ladder before pulling out my phone and turning it on. It marked 10:14 on 21 July 2026 (seeing as it is still synchronised to my 'original' time and place).
"Five hours, give or take," I answered my own question before returning the device to the hidden compartment that Gwen graciously sewed onto my 'dragon trader costume', or whatever you wanna call it.
"They cannot have taken us too far away from Ygor's camp, then," Merlin contributed.
A sigh left me as I slid down the wall to sit on the cold stoney floor again. "Have you tried breaking the bars with your superpowers?" I asked the sorcerer.
"It was the first thing I tried, but it did not work," he responded. "They must have put some kind of spell on them."
I puffed. "Well, at least Art'll know where to look for our corpses."
"Trae! Do not say that!" Gwaine quickly scolded, his eyes widening in bewilderment.
"I'm just being realistic, buddy. Merls can't get us out, we can't risk summoning Finny and K, Arthur likely won't realise something's wrong 'til it's too late, and I doubt that those barbarians will have a change of heart and come back for us," I shot back rapidly. "We're toast."
Merlin sat down next to me and rounded my shoulders with one arm, drawing me closer to his side. "We will think of something, Astra."
I let out a humourless laugh. "If only y'all had cell-phones, aye?"
Gwaine snorted and sat down to my other side. "Yes, that would be nice."
"Or walkie-talkies, y'know?" I continued. "E-mails! Even a freaking carrier pigeon!"
Merlin's head snapped my way and a big grin grew on his lips. "A carrier pigeon!"
I tilted my head. That's what I just said, I don't know why it's so exciting.
"Are there any birds outside?" he asked as he scrambled to his feet again.
"Uh... I saw a hawk, I think..." I responded.
"Astra!" he exclaimed happily and I raised an eyebrow. I still fail to see what fixed his mood so quickly. "I can enchant it and we can have it carry a message to Gwen and Gaius!"
"Merlin – you are a genius!" Gwaine praised as he, too, stood up.
"How, though? We don't have anything to write with," I pointed out.
"Your phone," my brother said.
My eyes widened in realisation. Then I finally allowed myself to smile as I thought of a way to improve upon his plan – "We can take a video of our surroundings! That way they'll know where to find us!"
"But that would mean showing it to Arthur," Gwaine interjected.
"Pops and Gwennie are smart. I'm sure they can figure out a way to get Artie here without landing me in the pyre," I replied.
"All right, let us do it!" Merlin chirped.
And so, my brother enchanted a hawk into being our new pet carrier pigeon, and it flew away while carrying a makeshift sling (which we made from a ripped piece of Gwaine's ridiculous fur coat) that contained my phone.
Two days went by and I'm convinced that the only reason why we're still alive is because someone upstairs decided to be merciful and bless us with a couple of rainy days, meaning that some water filtered through the window and allowed us to hydrate our bodies. Food, on the other hand, wasn't within our reach. Merlin tried to enchant another bird into bringing us something; but, apparently, it's a lot more complicated to turn an animal into a waiter than it is to turn them into a mailman, and we gave up eventually.
"D'ya think they got the phone, or are we as good as dead?" I asked in a mumble. I lay on the wet ground, shivering slightly from the cold.
An unfortunate side effect from getting to drink water is that the chamber got slightly flooded from what poured in. Only some three centimetres, though one would've sufficed to make our circumstances worse. We're alive, though, so I can't complain that much.
"Have faith, Astra. Arthur will be here," my brother responded in a weak tone.
Tears instantly pooled in my eyes upon hearing his name. I really had the whole world in my hands for a moment, huh?
"What if he doesn't find us on time?" I worried in a whisper.
Gwaine's arms wrapped around my torso and he pulled me to his chest. I could hear his slightly laboured breathing as he spoke gently, "You are exhausted, Trae. Try to get some rest. He will be here before you know it."
"What about Ai? Are we ever gonna find her?" I ignored his request as my heart-beat accelerated once more. It sure is having fun taking up what little energy remains in me.
"Yes. We just have to keep trying," Merlin replied.
"Why does everything keep going wrong?" I wondered and a sob escaped me.
Gwaine tightened his hold on me, shushing me gently. "Life has its ups and downs, kid. Everything will work out eventually."
"What if it doesn't? What if we lost her for good?"
"The only way we will lose her for good is if we give up," the knight said oh-so-wisely while running his fingers through my hair.
I was left speechless at that.
"Go to sleep, Trae. Arthur is on his way."
My ears perked up at the sound of faint voices in the distance.
Another night passed and my head screamed in agony from being tortured by a terrible headache that only intensifies the longer I go without food; but that feeling didn't stop me from sitting up and trying to focus my hearing.
Am I hallucinating?
Gwaine and Merlin's reactions to the noises soon told me that I'm not.
"Anyone got the energy to get their attention?" I asked in a raspy whisper.
"How can we be sure it's them?" Merlin wondered in a similar tone.
"We can't, but I don't think we've got much to lose," I responded.
"Over here!" Gwaine raised his voice weakly before letting out a dry cough. I don't think he accomplished much.
"Maybe we can throw somethin'," I proposed.
My brother sluggishly took off one shoe and threw it towards the window, but it bounced against one of the bars and fell back in.
"Well, you'd suck as a basketball player," I quipped.
He scoffed at my words before trying again. And he got the same result.
"C'mon, buddy. Third time's the charm," I encouraged with a strained grin.
Merlin took a deep breath and then he threw the shoe again. This time, it went past the bars and landed outside.
"What is that?!" I heard a male voice ask in the distance.
Gwaine raised his eyebrows for a moment, then he shrugged and, in a flash, he stole Merlin's other shoe, rapidly throwing it out, too.
"Hey! Why mine?" the sorcerer protested with a questioning look.
"Take one for the team, Cinderella," I shot at him with a frail giggle.
I was only startled for a nanosecond when the face of none other than the great Sir Leon appeared in front of the barred window, his eyes widening instantly.
I let out a sigh of relief. "Took ya' long enough."
The curly blond's lips produced a relieved smile before he yelled out, "I found them! Get the King!"
Elyan appeared on the scene shortly after and he and Leon promptly managed to force the bars off the window with the help of a hook, a rope, and a pair of horses.
Reality blurred by as the two quickly tied a sort of harness and, before I knew it, it was being lowered into the little hell hole.
"Go on, Astra," Merlin prompted.
I didn't argue and hurried to wrap the rope around my still shivering body, then I held on tightly as Leon and Elyan pulled me up without much of a struggle.
I was surprised when the curly blond hugged me, his arms firm but gentle. "It is so great to see you, Astra," he whispered and surprised me further by kissing the side of my head. Then he let me go so that he could help Elyan get Merlin out next.
I heard him before I saw him. A gasp in the distance, coupled with the calling of my name.
My head turned automatically and I saw him sprinting across the grassy fields. With trembling legs, I stood up and took a couple of steps towards him, then I held on tightly when he finally reached me and swooped me up in his safe arms.
Perhaps it wasn't the ideal first thing to say to him after everything that happened, but the question spewed past my lips anyways – "Did you find them? Did you free the animals? The people?"
In any case, Arthur responded right away, "Yes, my love. Ygor is dead and the people and animals are free."
I let out a long, shaky exhale and nuzzled into the crook of his neck while trying hard not to cry. But it wasn't long before the tears won out.
"I'm so sorry, Artie," I mumbled while tightening my grip on him.
"You did nothing wrong, my darling," he assured me softly, but that did nothing to stop the emergence of the dumb sobbing baby that's trapped inside my now twenty-three-year-old body. "You are safe now, my love. You are all right," he continued speaking gently while rubbing gentle circles on the side of my torso.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you, too, my girl."