CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
THE CURSE OF CORNELIUS SIGAN ( i. )

When the cold months fade and summer finally returns, Calliope can barely keep track of her busy days. She wakes, throwing on her clothes quickly before sprinting to the palace kitchens and snatching a few pieces of food from the breakfast tray that would likely be on the way to Prince Arthur's chambers. Then, like clockwork, Sir Leon is waiting for her in the courtyard with their horses ready for a morning patrol. The past weeks have been filled with scouting the borders near Cenred's kingdom while other knights and guards keep an eye on any activities near Odin's lands.

Most days after patrol, she catches up with Arthur on the training grounds for a few hours, and by the time the sun begins drifting low in the late afternoon sky, she is completely and utterly exhausted, but sleeping has been a difficult task because Uther has instructed constant work under the palace near the burial vaults. Day and night, she can hear the hammering and clanging, and even if she didn't struggle with nightmares, Calliope would find it impossible to receive a good night's rest.

She has grown accustomed to the bags underneath her blue eyes and the constant headache that drones on in her skull from sleep deprivation. The blonde is not alone in her ailments. The knights move slower during their training and constant yawns echo through the wind. How much longer would the King order this construction? Any longer and everyone may drop dead from the combination of a heat stroke and exhaustion because the burning sun growing hotter and hotter with each day doesn't help the situation. Calliope definitely hates the cold and her body never does fully adjust to winter, but here in this miserable weather, she almost longs for a chilly breeze.

Currently, she is dismounting her horse, sweat drenching every inch of her body and causing her shirt to stick to ger dewy skin. The blonde wipes her forehead with her arm, thankful her sleeveless, navy tunic allows for at least some form of relief. From beside her, she can see Sir Leon struggling underneath all his chainmail and the red cloak adorned with a golden lion that all the knights must wear. She gives him a side-eyed look, her lips turning up as he breathes heavily.

Quickly, a servant hurries up to them, offering up a fresh canister of cold water. Leon takes a few huge gulps before handing the container to Calliope, their own supply being completely drained from the long ride that took up their entire day.

Water has never tasted so good. The cool liquid quenches her desperate thirst, "I thought you were going to pass out for a second there."

Leon looks over to her as they lead their horses towards the stables together, "I think this is the hottest summer Camelot has ever had."

"I spent one summer on a Southern Island. Luckily, I was near the ocean so I could always go for a swim every day when it would get this hot," Calliope leads her horse into its stall. "Here it's just muggy and gross and everything smells like shit."

The knight chuckles, walking beside her as they head back towards the castle, "You'll get used to it."

"Maybe we should visit the tavern tonight. We've been working like dogs for weeks, and we deserve some fun," Calliope suggests as they walk into the greeting room of the palace, servants and guards moving through corridors around them. "It's been a while since I've kicked your ass at a drinking game."

They stop outside the Throne Room. The King and other knights are expecting a full report of the patrol on the edge of the border. Calliope can see them all gathered around the table, examining a map and adding markers. Arthur stands next to his father, his face scrunched and concentrated. Sometimes, when Uther is a good mood—which is rare and always a shock to everyone—he allows Calliope to engage in the debriefing session, but from the look on his face, today is not one of those days.

The prince's head turns when he sees them lingering by the doors. Calliope can feel his eyes flickering between her and Leon.

"I'd like that," he answers, "but I think you are misunderstood about whose ass will be getting kicked."

Laughing, she shoves him playfully into the Throne Room, "Go on, the patriarchy awaits you."

Rolling his eyes at her joke, he offers the blonde one last grin before joining his fellow knights.

Her eyes meet Arthur's as she stands by the door. She tilts her head in a friendly nod, giving him a small smile before heading towards her room in desperate need of a bath to wash the sweat and dirt off her skin.

To say things between them are good might be a stretch, but they certainly aren't bad either. Rebuilding trust takes time, and six months has been enough for him to start talking to her again. Last week, he even threw back a sarcastic comment at her during training. To Calliope, that's progress. She knows he tries—he really tries to push aside the fact that underneath everything she's a wanted enemy of Camelot, and that he betrayed his father by keeping her identity a secret, but it weighs on him. Deep down, she can tell that he sometimes wonders if he made the right call, and that small sliver of doubt is the last barrier between them.

There are times when instead of nightmares, the memory of their kiss in the caves keeps Calliope awake. She will press her fingertips to her lips, remembering how soft and warm and delicate it felt. There are other times when all she can think about in his presence is wanting to feel his lips against hers again. Those days, she usually skips training. It's just easier that way because when they spar together, skin meeting skin, it's an overwhelming heat that cannot be put out, and not because of the summer sun.

Calliope shakes off thoughts of Arthur as she enters her room. She made a few changes to the decorations. First, she cleared out all the fancy dresses in the closet and replaced it with her leather tunics and pants. The pantry which once held combs and jewelry now holds an array of daggers. Some she swiped from the armory, others were made by the blacksmith in exchange for a nice bag of money. The red curtains are now a dark blue. In fact, every ounce of red has been removed from the room. It's a start to forgetting.

When she spots that crimson, she sees herself as the Red Dragon and her blood on the marble alter and Sepharin smiling evilly as he has Arthur in his grasp

She squeezes her eyes shut. Go away, go away, go away.

"Cal?"

Her hand bolts to her belt, grabbing the hilt of a dagger as she jumps and turns, letting out a long string of curses when she sees not an attacker, but Quinn Everly. Her brown eyes are wide as she looks at the dagger, her wavy, chestnut hair pulled back from her tan face in braids.

Calliope grits her teeth as she puts away her dagger, "Shit. You know not to sneak up on me like that."

"Sorry," the servant says, holding a basket of clothes in her hands. Calliope's clothes.

With her eyes on the basket, Calliope huffs, "I told you that I don't need a servant. I'm not like Arthur—I don't need someone doing everything for me."

"Well, keeping this room tidy has always been part of my job, and that didn't change even when you moved in," the brunette replies, keeping her eyes on the blonde as she shrugs off her belt. "I clean all the rooms on this hall."

Calliope glances over her shoulder, "I suppose if you haven't listened to me after six months, you won't start now."

She shrugs with a smile, "I really don't mind. You're the only person who actually talks to me anyway. Everyone else just treats me like a stupid dog."

Laughing, Calliope sits down to take off her boots, "This palace is full of royal shitheads. I learned that pretty quick when I came here."

"You remind me so much of my sister," Quinn says turning to the door.  "She was never afraid to let people know her true opinion."

"She sounds smart."

"Very," Quinn opens the door with the basket of clothes resting against her hips. "She got out of this place. I was too young to leave. I would have only slowed her down anyway, and now, she's traveling the world—making a better life for herself."

Calliope can see the longing in Quinn's gaze for a different life, "Maybe you'll find a way out too."

"Well, if I stop coming to wash your clothes, you'll know why."

The brunette exits the room, and Calliope shakes her head with a small smile.

This new reality she lives in—even if she can't be with Arthur in the way she wants—isn't too bad. As Calliope sinks into a warm bath minutes later, she leans her head back against the tub, staring at the ceiling. If the only terrors she has to face now are tangling nightmares, she thinks she may be able to make a life here, and maybe, eventually...she will know, for the first time in ten years, what it feels like to be wrapped in true peace.

♛ ♛ ♛

"How do you think he died?...Gaius?"

As Calliope covers her mouth when a loud yawn echoes from her throat, the physician keeps his eyes on the tomb in front of them, especially on the sapphire-colored jewel sparkling in the middle.

After finally drifting to sleep, she was awoken by Merlin pounding on her door. She was led down to the burial vaults and faced with a dead body. Not exactly the way she wanted to spend her night.

Now, Calliope has seen her fair share of dead people, but this man—whose eyes are cracked and blacked out and his skin so pale that it's almost blue—creates an entirely new mystery for her. She examines him, raising her eyebrows at the brutality of the way he died.

All around them in the tomb are golds and riches. Whoever rests down here was obviously very fortunate in life.

Calliope stands from leaning over the dead man, "Do you know whose tomb it is?"

"I'm not sure," the physician answers.

Merlin glances around at all the contents of the tomb, "Do you think it might be cursed?"

"It's definitely fucking creepy," Calliope points out. "I hate tombs." The sorcerer raises his eyebrows at her. "What? When you kill people for a living, there are a lot of ghosts that want to haunt you."

Stepping forward so he can examine the tomb better, Gaius's foot sinks down with one of the stones, causing a loud snapping sound to escalate around them. A sharp arrow heads right for Gaius's head, and before it can meet its target, Merlin shouts an incantation and a gold plate soars through the air, landing right in front of the physician's face. The arrow bounces off the plate, and Gaius's eyes are still wide with fear and shock

He turns to Merlin, "You just saved my life."

Calliope's eyes go to where the arrow came from—a large raven with its mouth agape. That's creative. She was always too straight forward with killing people. She should have thought of more original ways. For example: poisonous arrows shooting from a creepy raven's mouth. Inspecting the contraption further with a brutal curiosity, she taps on the raven's head.

From the hall, she hears voices rising, and she steps away from the interesting murder raven. Merlin jumps, the hovering plate clattering the the ground.

Uther's voice grows louder, "Get out of my way, and make sure this place is guarded at all times."

The plate rolls all the way to the entrance of the tomb, right at the King's feet. He glances down, a huff of annoyance leaving his lips.

"Idiot."

Calliope holds in a laugh as Arthur steps through next, looking to his servant, "Were you born clumsy or do you just work at it?"

Merlin shrugs, sarcasm lacing his tone, "It's just one of my many gifts."

From beside them, Uther glances around the ornate tomb, "This is quite a find. You see, Gaius, I was right. There is treasure to be found under Camelot. Which if my predecessors do I have to thank for all this?" The King's gaze stops on the shining gem that seems to enthrall everyone stepping into the tomb. It calls to them, daring anyone brave enough to come closer. "Gaius?" He asks again, eager for an explanation.

Looking into a decorative box, Gaius snaps his gaze back up to Uther, "I 'd have to look into it, Sire."

Uther continues to inspect the treasures surrounding him, but he halts when he finally sees the dead miner and his gruesome figure. The King points to the dead man.

"How did he die?"

"He seems to have unwittingly triggered a trap here," Gaius motions to the raven, and Uther examines it closely.

"Murder raven," Calliope mutters to Merlin with excitement in her eyes that makes him shake his head.

"Sometimes, I really wonder about you, Cal."

She shoves him, causing the King to turn and look between them with an annoyed stare.

Arthur clears his throat, nodding towards the raven, "The...murder raven, as Calliope said, is to deter grave robbers."

"Well, there is plenty in here people would want to steal," he turns to his son. Very true. Calliope is eying a few things herself. "Have them secure the tomb. Guarding it is your responsibility, Arthur."

Bowing his head, the prince accepts his father's order, "Yes, Father."

And as they leave the tomb, nobody notices as the clever assassin slips a beautiful, golden bracelet onto her wrist. Grinning, she nods to the guards.

What? Did you really think she would give up the chance to disobey the King?

♛ ♛ ♛

The next morning, Calliope spends her time taking a walk with Quinn through town. They chat and examine new silks that were brought in from the East. Calliope notices the servant eying an extremely expensive dress made from the beautiful silk. Sighing, she shakes her head and turns away from it.

The blonde glances down at the bracelet adorning her wrist. It would be enough to buy the dress and a lot more.

Calliope walks up to her, unclasping the bracelet and dangling it out to her friend. Quinn looks at her with raised eyebrows, examining the sparkling, pure gold.

"What's that?"

Shrugging, Calliope sets it in Quinn's palm, "It's yours."

"Oh, I could never—"

"Just take it, Quinn," the servant still has reservations on her face. "If it makes you feel better, it's not mine. I...procured it."

"I don't think that makes me feel better."

"Stop being so fucking noble and buy that dress and whatever else you want," Calliope insists. "You deserve it."

With a small amount of reluctant present in her eyes, Quinn finally gives in. Calliope watches as her eyes light up when the dress becomes hers along with some other jewelry and some new shoes that she desperately needed.

They make a day out of browsing the markets together until the sun hangs up in the sky at noon. On their way back to the palace, Calliope sees Arthur by the gates. He stops his conversation with the guards and begins walking up to the two girls.

Quinn smirks when she sees the blonde's lingering eyes, and she excuses herself. Calliope almost calls for her to come back and be a buffer between her and the prince, but before she can, Quinn is hurrying up the stairs. Damn it.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she faces Arthur as he stops a few feet in front of her. She raises her eyebrows, silently asking what he needs from her.

"You didn't come to training this morning."

"I wasn't really feeling up to it," she answers, tilting her head.

He clenches his jaw, annoyed at her nonchalant attitude. "We were supposed to set up a schedule together for guarding the tomb."

"Well, I had other things to do."

"Like what?"

"Like...contemplating how much of a hardass you can be."

He releases aggravated huff looking to the sky for patience, "You do realize I'm in charge of the knights and the guard and whatever position you have. You can't just keep doing whatever the fuck you want. That's not how things work around here."

"Why do you even care what I do?" She fires at him, eyes flashing. "You've established that you don't trust me anymore. In fact, I just can't seem to figure out why I'm not in a jail cell or on the execution stand by now because you can barely even look at me, Arthur. So, forgive me, for not wanting to be around you all the time."

The Prince swallows. Both of them have a hard time thinking about her true identity and how it complicates everything around them. An enemy of Camelot, walking free in the streets. An enemy of Camelot, training with knights.

"Can you blame me?" He asks, his voice lowering. "How many people have you murdered, Cal?"

"Don't throw that in my face!" she hisses. "You've killed people too."

"In battle, in self-defense, bloody hell I've killed people to save you!"

Calliope's eyes drill into his, "And I killed myself to save you." That hits him right in the chest, and she knows it, but the assassin only shakes her head. "If you only want to see me as a killer and a liar, fine, but I'm not going to stand here and beg for anything from you."

Something along the lines of regret appears on his face, and before he can reach out to apologize or take back his harsh words, she's walking away. And she doesn't look back. Calliope thought they were moving past this. She thought he finally would be able to trust her again after these past few months, but she can't help but feel like they are only moving backwards instead. Is there no way for her to prove to him that she's on his side? That everything with Sepharin and the blood wraiths is behind her for good, and all she wants to do is establish a good life for herself now. She's not sure what she needs to do, or what words she can say. Everything she does just seems like the wrong thing.

Calliope decides to go for an afternoon ride by herself while Arthur and some of the other knights embark on another hunt. She takes some time to clear her head by a flowing, crystal spring. She sits on a large rock beside the water, crossing her legs and resting her elbows on her knees. Calliope inhales deeply, letting the sounds of the forest overtake her thoughts as she closes her eyes. A summer breeze dances through the air, teasing back a few stray strands of her icy hair.

She just sits like this for a while, focusing on her breathing. As someone who struggles with anger, taking a few hours every week to meditate really helps her from having any heated outbursts. Usually, she reserves those for Arthur alone.

When the sun starts to dip above her, she stands and stretches her muscles before mounting her horse and heading back to the city. By the time she has her horse secured in the stables, night has overtaken the castle. Calliope saunters through the courtyard, her stomach rumbling as she walks through Gaius's door a few minutes later. She can smell a stew already cooking on the stove. She leans over the pot, grabbing a spoon while Gaius remains busy with his work, and she sneaks an early bite.

Gaius presses his lips together from his workbench, "I saw that."

Dropping the spoon, she turns to the physician, "I'm starving, Gaius."

"Go ahead and get a bowl. I'll join you when I've finished," the physicians answers as he pours mysterious liquid into a clear vial.

She doesn't hesitate to take up his offer, and soon, she is scarfing down the vegetable soup at the table. Eventually, Gaius joins her, and they chat as they eat until he excuses himself to look through a pile of old books.

Then, the door swings open. Calliope stops eating her second bowl of soup mid-bite, spotting Merlin huffing as he slams the door behind him and slings his satchel over his shoulder. Raising her eyebrows, the blonde looks him over.

"What's got you so down, wizard boy?"

He shrugs, "I saved Arthur's life. Someone else got the credit. Just the usual. What are you doing?"

Gaius keeps his eyes on the pages of his book while Merlin comes to examine it, "I found the inscription on the scepter."

The sorcerer leans over Gaius to get a better look at the words, "What language is that?"

"I don't know. Sigan would have known many languages."

Calliope looks up, "Sigan?"

"It's his tomb."

Merlin pulls up a chair to sit beside Gaius, "Who was he?"

Disbelief shoots through Gaius's eyes. Neither Calliope nor Merlin seem to have any clue as to who this Sigan could be, and this shocks him, "He was the most powerful sorcerer who ever lived."

"Really?"

The physician nods, "Neither of you grew up in Camelot, but for those of us that did, Cornelius Sigan was a figure of nightmare."

Calliope turns her body, suddenly more interested in the conversation, "Oh, I love scary stories that terrify children."

Sighing, Gaius shakes his head at her, "His powers were the terrifying part. He could change day into night, turn the tides, and legend had it, his spells helped build Camelot itself."

"What happened?" Merlin asks.

"In the end, he grew too powerful and the king at the time ordered his execution."

The blonde stands, walking up to the table to get her own look at the book, "But he's dead, so why do you look so worried?"

"Sigan couldn't bear the thought that his wealth and power would die with him so he became obsessed with finding a way to defeat death itself."

Merlin leans back, "And you think he may have succeeded?"

"Let's hope not, for all our sakes."

With the possibility of a dead man back from the grave to destroy Camelot lingering through Calliope's mind as she heads to her room later, she's almost too distracted to realize that her door is wide open.

Freezing, she grabs her dagger. Servants always use the servant's entrance, and nobody visits her room but her or Merlin if he needs to vent about Arthur being a jerk. She hears someone rustling around in her room. Her mind descends into a spiral as flashes of her blood flowing from her chest take over. Sepharin's face, the blood wraiths trying to pull her to hell; their pale, wrinkly, cold hands around her.

Her body goes into a full defensive panic. Calliope's muscles are tense and tight as she carefully steps closer to the door. She prepares herself to bring down the intruder. Her senses are keen and alert. The blonde inhales sharply before taking a strong step through the door, her dagger raised and ready to find a target.

A scream fills the room, and Calliope stops. A terrified girl around her age in an ivory dress with long, silky brown hair stares at her in bewilderment. Calliope's cupboard is open, her array of lethal knives on display, and this girl looks like she may pass out in fear.

Calliope lets out a long breath, setting down her dagger on the table. Her eyes lock with the unknown girl's, "Who the fuck are you?" Calliope asks in a ruder tone than she intended, but this girl almost sent her into a panic attack, so it's kind of deserved.

A combination of absolute shock and disgust overtakes the girl's face, "Excuse me?"

"Oh, sorry. My bad, you must be deaf," Calliope raises her voice, "I said, who the fuck are you?"

Dumbfounded, the girl scoffs, "I am someone you should address properly."

Rubbing the bridge of her nose in frustration, Calliope points to the door, "Get out."

"I will have you know—"

Calliope walks forward, "Look, I have no idea who you are, and honestly, I don't care, but I'm really not in the mood to get an etiquette lesson. I would like to go to bed in peace, so..." she motions for the girl to leave, but she only stares back at the blonde, giving her a distasteful look.

"You must be mistaken. This is my room."

Blinking several times, Calliope shakes her head, "Well, I've been sleeping in here every night for the past six months, so obviously you're the one who's mistaken."

"You will move your things out at once," the girl responds.

Two options flutter through Calliope's mind as she looks at this girl. Option one: kill her and throw her body from the window. Option two: throw her out and onto her face in the hallway.

But before Calliope can decide which option best fits the situation, another person steps through the door.

"Oh, there you are," Arthur looks between the two girls, noticing that Calliope is on the verge of killing the girl before her. He clears his throat. "This is Lady Victoria Beckett, daughter of the Duke of Thera. There must have been a misunderstanding. She's supposed to be in the room across the hall."

Smirking Victoria turns to Calliope, "My father is a lifelong friend of the King, and our riches help fund his campaign against magic."

Calliope nods, "Well, it's a good thing you have money to buy friends for you."

"And who are you?" Victoria raises her eyebrows. "You must be a very important person in this kingdom to be able to address honored guests in such a rude way."

As Calliope opens her mouth to say something to shock the Lady even more, Arthur stops her, "This is Calliope. She's..." Yes, what exactly is she to him? Their argument flashes through her mind, and she wonders if he'll say something cruel. She raises her eyebrows, hoping he chooses his next words very carefully. "She's a friend of the kingdom," Of the kingdom. Some how, the words hurt her in a way she doesn't expect. "And, she's a skilled warrior who has been helping advance Camelot's defenses."

Arthur's gaze locks with her own, and she sees him clench his jaw as Victoria takes a step closer to the blonde, "Do you want some advice, Calliope?"

"No, but I gather you're going to keep talking no matter what I say."

Lady Victoria narrows her eyes, "You don't want to make an enemy of me."

"Noted," Calliope says looking to Arthur. "So, are you going to get her out of here, or should I?"

"I've never encountered such rude behavior in my entire life," Victoria turns to the prince. "You should send her to the dungeons for the night to learn some respect, my Lord. Is this how you allow your guests to be treated?"

Scoffing, Calliope turns to Arthur, her eyebrows raised expectantly, wondering if he will deliver her request. He looks between them, unsure of how to navigate this situation.

"Lady Victoria," he says, bowing his head. "I think it's best if I just escort you to your room."

Letting out a breath of unbelief, she shoots Calliope a displeased look before storming out the door.

Calliope immediately bursts into laughter, despite the lingering tension between her and the Prince from their encounter earlier, and Arthur shakes his head at her as she sits down on her bed, "She's lovely."

"You'll have to get used to her," Arthur answers. "My father invited her to stay in Camelot for the summer."

"Why?"

He shrugs, "No idea. All I know is that my father adores her, so you really should be careful how you speak to her."

"I think I can handle a rich brat. I mean, I do have a lot of practice."

The prince leans against the wall, nodding his head in a small laugh, "I suppose you do." Then, he lets out a nervous breath, "Cal, about earlier—"

"It's nothing, Arthur," she says, avoiding his gaze. "I know trust isn't easy to rebuild, but I'm trying. I thought you were too."

"I am, it's just..." he trails off. "It's not easy, sometimes."

A silence falls between them as Arthur contemplates saying more, but Calliope breaks his gaze and gestures to the hallway, "Well, enjoy dealing with Lady Victoria. I'll do my best not to push her from the balcony."

Arthur pushes himself off the wall, tilting his head towards her, "Goodnight, Calliope."

A memory flares in her mind—their night together. How they said goodnight with mingled breaths and crumpled sheets as his arms surrounded her in the night.

She pushes the memory away, forcing herself to try to forget.

"Goodnight, Arthur."

♛ ♛ ♛

hello everyone! here is the first chapter of part two!! i hope you enjoyed :)
also, i added lady victoria's casting in the introduction chapter for part two. she's a character i came up with and was on the fence about including, but i'm excited for you guys to read the plot line with her. as you can tell, she and cal do not get along lmao

remember to vote and leave your thoughts in the comments <3