CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
THE NIGHTMARE BEGINS ( ii. )

Following Sir Leon down the corridors towards Arthur's room, Calliope chews on the inside of her cheek, unable to stop thinking about her conversation with Quinn. How many people actually suspect that something is going on with her and Arthur, and how many of them are people that could keep something so dangerous to themselves? They can't be that obvious. Can they?

Calliope stands next to Leon as he raises his fist to knock on the Prince's door, but a head of honey-blond hair appears on the other end of the hallway, and Leon brings his hand down to his side. The assassin puts on a face she had practice thousands of times. A mask she thought she didn't have to wear so often anymore, but maybe she has let her guard down too far.

Prince Arthur gives both of them a greeting nod, eyes lingering on Calliope for a second too long, before motioning for them to come into his room.

The knight hands Arthur the rolled piece of parchment they were sent to deliver, and Arthur unfolds it as they step into his room. Calliope notices Merlin standing over the table polishing chainmail.

"Are you sure this is all of them?"

"Names and last known dwelling places," Leon answers.

Arthur's eyes scan over all the names, "My father suspects the fire was started by sorcery."

"Indeed, Sire. Cal and I included the details of everyone we suspect of consorting with sorcerers, witches, or Druids."

A flash of approval covers his face as he sets the paper down on the table, "Gather the men. We'll arrest them immediately."

The Prince's eyes catch hers one last time. She can't even look at him without being reminded of their heated kiss even when she lost their stupid bet, and he's being so goddamn irritating. So irritating that she could slap him— or kiss him again.

Inhaling sharply, she looks away from his eyes, and hurries after Leon in the hallway. As she catches up to the knight, she shakes her head.

"Leon, can I ask you something?"

He glances down at the blonde as they pass a few servants in the corridor, "What's on your mind?"

"It's Arthur—well—me and Arthur. Are we...would you say it's obvious?"

Leon halts, turning to her with his eyebrows raised, "Obvious? You mean the other night in the tavern when the two of you were practically undressing each other with your eyes?"

She shoves him, "That was different. We were drunk. I mean, when we are around the castle, do you think a lot of people notice—do the other knights know?"

"I'm the only one that knows for sure, and I would never reveal your secret, Cal."

"I know that, but I'm just worried about the King," she says in a quieter voice. "If he finds out, I could be banished or worse, and Arthur would be forced to marry Victoria immediately."

He places a hand on her shoulder, "Some of the knights do have suspicions, but it's all just talk." Dangerous talk, she thinks.

They spend the rest of the day going down the list of people Uther wants arrested for questioning, and by the time they're done, the dungeons are too full for even one more prisoner. From the piece of parchment, they were only unable to find one woman. If Calliope wanted, she could hunt her down, but since Uther gave this order, she doesn't care enough to put hat much effort into it.

Her body is tired and in dire need of some good rest, but when she enters her room, instead of finding it empty with her bed ready to envelop her exhausted frame, she jumps, startled.

There are two people in her room: Merlin and Morgana. The King's ward is dressed with a red hood drawn up over her head. Calliope closes the door, leaning back against it and bringing her fingertips to pinch the bridge of her nose. Of course Merlin got himself into trouble. Of course she's going to be dragged into this.

After accepting those two statements, she pushes herself off the door, holding out her hands expectantly, "Are you two going to explain why you're in my room, or are you just going to stand there silently?"

Nerves ignite on Morgana's face, but Merlin gives her a reassuring look, "You can trust Cal."

"I know," she answers. "All of this is just very overwhelming."

"Merlin, what the hell is going on?"

"Morgana is going to find the Druids," he says, "to get the answers she needs."

Calliope laughs, "Well, that is a very stupid idea, but it's nothing new for you, I guess."

Merlin huffs, "Are you going to help or not?"

"Of course I'm going to fucking help," she says, gliding past him to open her dresser of daggers. "I can't let you throw yourself into idiocy alone, now can I?'

♛ ♛ ♛

The Forest of Ascetir is one of the most dangerous places to be at nightfall, and yet, here Calliope is, trekking through it with the King's ward as every little crack or rustle from the woods causes her grip on the her sword to tighten.

Bandits prowl this area, especially in the darkness, waiting for some poor traveler to rob, but Calliope is ready for any surprises. Whatever this forest wants to throw at her, she's prepared.

She ducks under a hanging branch, holding it back for Lady Morgana, balancing on the rocky path and careful of her steps so she doesn't turn an ankle. The dark-haired girl gives her a thankful nod, and they continue down the path in a small valley between two hills of heavy foliage. They haven't made much conversation, mainly because danger could be lurking behind any bush, and it's best to stay as silent as possible.

But Calliope is curious to know what's going on in Morgana's head. The King hates magic, and knowing that must eat away at her—that someone who she loves so much would hate her for her true self. Someone that's supposed to love her unconditionally.

The assassin glances around their surroundings before quietly speaking up, "I think you're being brave by looking for answers."

"You do?"

Calliope nods, "It'd be easy to just to pretend like it's not happening. Facing your fears takes a lot of courage."

A light laugh escapes Morgana's lips, "Well, the truth is, I am completely terrified."

"Good," Calliope answers as she looks over her shoulder, "it means you're not stupid."

"What about you, Cal?" The king's ward glances from her face to the sword steadfast in the blonde's hands. "What are you afraid of?"

She's asking like anything that would scare this ruthless warrior must be made of true terror itself. But Calliope has faced death—it's icy kiss and void nothingness that still haunts her dreams— and it's not her eyes going still in her nightmares. It's Arthur and Merlin and Gaius and everyone else she's ever cared about.

So, as her eyes become overcome with more honesty than Morgana has ever seen from her, Calliope answers, "Destroying the people I care about." Her words aren't clear cut with a solid meaning, and Calliope can see Morgana trying to unravel the mystery.

The dark-haired girl opens her mouth to question Calliope further, but the blonde raises her hand when she hears a twig snap. The sound echoes throughout the trees, and the cloak of nightfall causes Calliope to struggle to see anything in the distance except a long darkness.

The sensation of her skin crawling is like a warning bell going off in her brain.

"Something's out there," she says, gripping her blade.

Morgana's head turns in every direction, "What is it?"

"I don't know, but I don't think it's friendly," Leaves crunch under her boots as she steps towards a tall bush. All of her senses are on alert as she prepares herself to swing her sword at whatever creature is watching them.

The entire forest goes quiet. Calliope's fast breathing is all that can be heard as she leans forward. For a moment, she begins to think maybe it was only a deer or rabbit searching for food, but then, something bursts forth from the bush.

Calliope gasps as she stumbles back, and a large, black scorpion with it's stinger pointed directly at her stands on the ground. It's tail rattles, like the hiss of a snake, as it prepares to strike.

But the assassin is quicker as she lunges, lethal and precise, slicing its head clean off.

The body goes limp as the head tumbles near Calliope's feet. She grimaces, turning her nose up at the oozing fluids, "Holy fuck," she kicks the head away. "Well, I think we're fine now—"

"Cal."

"Yeah?" Calliope's blood goes cold when she sees another scorpion, and another, and about twenty more encircling them, "You've got to be kidding me."

Both of them put their backs to each other as Calliope swings her blade out to keep the scorpions at bay, but that tactic will not last, and even if she was able to slay one or two, there's still an entire hoard coming for them.

"What do we do?" Morgana asks frantically.

"Uh—" That's a great question, and Calliope has no idea. "Just... stay close—" A sudden, burning pain in her left calf causes Calliope to fall to her knees and cry out a string of curses, "Motherfucker!"

"Cal! Are you okay?"

She's still mumbling curses as she feels the venom shooting through her veins. Her vision begins blurring—all she can feel is the flaming pain— as Morgana gets stung and falls next to her on the ground. The scorpions inch closer and closer, stingers ready to inflict another blow. Calliope wonders if this is where she'll die, and she thinks about the fact that's it's a shit death after surviving the blood wraiths and Sepharin.

And right as Calliope feels her consciousness fading, the scorpions begin backing away, like some invisible force is making them retreat.

A man appears from the shadows; a red cloak around his shoulders.

But then, everything fades to black.

♛ ♛ ♛

Chirps of waking songbirds are the first thing that brings Calliope out of her slumber. Everything mixes as her eyes flutter open. A long moment of disorientation keeps her from sitting up. Where am I? What happened?

Everything snaps into reality. Calliope sits up, looking and reaching for her blade to find nothing. Whoever saved them even took her dagger from her belt and the small knife she always kept tucked away in her boot. Finally, she takes in her surroundings. The assassin is in a small, red tent on a cot made of stray and a think blanket. She can smell smoke from a nearby fire, and mingled voices drift through the air outside her tent.

When she tries to stand, Calliope cries out. Her left calf won't support her weight, and the pain from trying to stand almost makes her pass out again.

Morgana, she has to find Morgana.

Her muscles tense when she hears someone approaching the tent. Calliope readies herself to fight her way out with her fists, no matter what, if it comes to that.

But the man who comes through the flaps of the tent is a familiar face, "Calliope, how are you feeling?"

"You—you're the man Prince Arthur and I brought the Druid boy to in the woods."

"My name is Aglain," he answers.

"Where's Morgana?' Her voice comes out as threatening, and he raises his hands.

"She's completely fine. We brought both of you here so we could heal you. Those creatures in the woods were Serkets. They can be lethal if the venom is not treated quickly."

Calliope leans back, glancing down to her calf where a tight bandage covers the wound, "Thank you."

Offering his hand, Aglain motions to the exit of the tent, "I'll take you to Morgana."

With his help, the blonde is able to get to her feet, but not without a sudden, shooting pain in her calf. She stifles a grimace as she gathers her strength and steps out of the tent.

All around her are tents of different colors with people, young and old, gathering firewood or washing clothes or talking amongst themselves, but seeing Calliope causes all of them to stop their tasks. The stares cause her nerves to tingle, and she wonders why everyone seems so interested in her.

As they stop outside a tent across the campground, the assassin turns to Aglain, "Can I ask you a question?"

She can almost read his thoughts, Only if you are ready for the truth.

Calliope furrows her eyebrows, "What truth—wait, did you say that out loud?"

"Calliope, you are not ready."

He goes to open the tent, but she grabs his arm, "I'm the only one who gets to decide that."

The man presses his lips into a hard line, glancing over her face, "Haven't you already been through enough?"

She steps closer, trying not to appear threatening, but it's in her nature, "Tell me. Tell me why all you people know my name—why you seem to know more about me than I do myself."

"You're very convincing," he shakes his head, "In fact, you're many things, Red Dragon, but being equipped to deal with this right now isn't one of them."

"What the fuck does that even mean—?" Aglain ignores her as he steps through the tent and Calliope throws her hands up, letting out a frustrating huff as she follows in after him. As soon as she walks into the tent, Aglain is gone, and she lets out a string of curses. Of course he's going to be cryptic and just leave. Fucking Druids.

Her eyes land on Morgana, and the King's ward sits up quickly, her eyes flooding with relief at the sight of her friend, "Cal, thank God." Calliope sits down beside her and is enveloped into a tight hug, "Are you alright?"

Calliope pulls away, nodding, "It's just a scratch. I'll be fine. How are you doing?"

"Well, I've been better," she says through a laugh, "but I think I can find my place here."

The blonde's eyebrows pinch in confusion, "Your place? So, does that mean you're staying?"

"For now. I have to learn more about my magic, Cal. How to control it, and understand it. I can't go back to Camelot. Maybe not ever."

"I get it," Calliope answers with a small smile. "I mean, Camelot is not exactly the dream destination for people with magic, unless their dream is to get their head sliced off."

Morgana manages a light laugh, but her eyes are welling with tears, "Will you tell Gwen I'm okay? I know she's probably worried sick, and I wouldn't want her to think something bad happened to me."

"Of course," Calliope says.

The sound of bushes rustling and leaves crunching causes Calliope to stiffen. She turns, clenching her fists with her eyes drilled on the back entrance of the tent. The sounds get closer and closer, until a head comes popping through the flaps.

Calliope puts her hand on her chest, "What the hell, Merlin?"

"Yeah, what are you doing here?" Morgana asks.

Merlin glances between the two of them, "I've come to take you back to Camelot."

"Then I'm afraid you've wasted your journey. I'm not going back."

His eyes fill with panic, "You have to."

"Why?" she questions. "You're the one who said I should seek out the Druids. You sent Cal with me to ensure I would find them!"

The sorcerer shakes his head, "I never realized what the repercussions would be."

"Repercussions?" Calliope asks.

He lets out a short breath, "The King thinks Morgana has been kidnapped. He won't stop until you're found. He's arrested dozens of people, and he's going to execute them."

"If I return, the same fate awaits me."

"Uther doesn't need to know. I won't tell a soul."

Morgana turns her eyes to the ground, face scrunching as she thinks about her decision, "I'm sorry," she says in a low voice, "I'm never going back. These are my people. They're like me. I don't feel so alone here. Do you understand?"

The assassin's chest clenches as she sees the look on Merlin's face. If only Morgana knew, "Better than anyone."

"This is Morgana's decision," Calliope says, "and we must respect it."

She can see how Merlin doesn't want to accept this, but they can't force her to do anything. She has magic, and she must learn more about herself and her powers. Being with the Druids is definitely a far safer place than Camelot for her anyway.

Just as Merlin opens his mouth to speak, Aglain appears inside the tent again, "Morgana, we must go." Then his eyes move to Merlin. "Who are you?"

"It's alright, he's a friend," Calliope stands, facing the Druid. "What's going on?"

"Arthur and his men are coming," Shit. Calliope places her hands on her hips. "Your friend has led them straight to us."

"I need my weapons, Aglain," Calliope marches up to him, "Where the fuck are my weapons?"

"Cal, you can't fight them—"

"Shut up, Merlin," Calliope turns, her eyes shooting between the sorcerer and Morgana. "Just...leave Arthur to me. You guys go."

Morgana shakes her head, "Cal—"

"I said go! I got this."

She doesn't have to say another word. Morgana gives her a small nod as Aglain reaches to a large chest by the entrance of the tent. Pulling the the trunk open, he looks to Calliope, and she doesn't waste a second.

Her hand closes around her sword, relief washing through her veins at the feel of it in her hands again. Then, she straps her favorite dagger to her belt and places the smaller one in her right boot.

Merlin follows Morgana and Aglain out of the tent as the assassin takes a deep breath. The sounds of screaming and trampling mix in the air outside as everyone scrambles to grab what they can and run. In the distance, she can hear the hounds barking and the glow of torchlights coming closer.

She runs with a small limp in her step as she approaches the group of guards coming at her. The pain in her calf is almost consuming, but she grits her teeth and pushes herself to keep going. Then, when she sees Arthur appear, Calliope nearly crashes into him.

"Calliope?" His hands are on her arms, keeping her steady. "What—?"

"There's no time to explain," she says in an urgent voice. "I found Morgana, but we have to hurry."

He saves his questions for later as he nods and instructs half of the guards to stick with them as Calliope leads them in the opposite direction Morgana went with Aglain and Merlin. Please don't be stupid, she thinks, wishing they could hear her thoughts.

"You're hurt," she hears Arthur say from beside her.

"It's nothing."

"Yeah, that's what you said when you got stabbed in the shoulder, so I don't really believe you."

They press deeper into the forest, and Calliope prays to whatever forces that are out there that Morgana was able to get away with the Druids. Without Arthur on her trail, maybe it would be enough.

But just as she starts to think their plan worked, a guard runs to them from the other side of the forest, "We have her!" he calls out. "We have the Lady Morgana!"

Calliope leans against a nearby tree, sweat caking her forehead as she puts all her weight on her uninjured leg.

The Prince's face is flushed with relief as he puts his hand on her shoulder, "Guards, help Calliope onto a horse."

"Arthur, I really don't need—"

"I insist," he says, looking into her gaze. "You're injured. Let me help."

She gives in with a labored breath, and one of the guards brings a horse. As she sits in the saddle, watching as Morgana is roused from unconsciousness and embraced by Arthur, she only hopes the young witch will tread carefully in Camelot.

♛ ♛ ♛

After getting her calf treated by Gaius—along with a scolding for getting involved in the situation at all—Calliope found her way back to her room. Currently, she's sitting on her bed with her leg outstretched. Her pants are rolled up to reveal the cloth pressed against the Serket sting. Three days of rest before she can return to her usual activities. What is she going to do for three whole days?

Sit here and think. That's about all she can do; think about Aglain's words to her about not being ready for the truth—not being equipped to handle it. What truth? What could be so horrible that someone like her, whose been through literal hell, couldn't handle it? The thought makes her shiver that there could be something worse out there waiting to be discovered.

She's chewing on her lip, lost in her own thoughts, when there is a gentle knock at her door. It must be past midnight. Maybe Quinn forgot something or is checking in, but she would use the servant's entrance.

"Come in," her voice carries through the air, and her breath hitches as soon as the door is pushed open to reveal Prince Arthur standing there in one of those loose-hanging shirts that distracts her so much.

She focuses on trying to keep her heartbeat steady as he walks in and closes the door behind him, "Even you should have known that a solo rescue mission to save Morgana was extremely stupid."

Calliope shrugs, "I got a lead, and I just couldn't wait. I usually do better tracking people on my own anyway. It used to be my job, you know."

"Well, next time..." Arthur crosses the room, sitting down on the edge of the bed, his eyes glancing to the bandage on her leg, "Maybe don't go running into danger without telling anyone."

Her eyes catch his as she brings her knees up to her chest, "Did you really just come in here to lecture me, Pendragon?" The corners of his lips turn up. "Because, if so, then you're wasting your breath."

He shakes his head, "No, I wanted to check on you," their eyes dance for a short moment, and Calliope can feel the heat returning to her, threatening to appear on her cheeks.

"I'm doing fine. Gaius gave me something for the pain," she says, fighting the urge in her brain to let her eyes wander down to his lips or his chest...

"But also," Calliope inhales at the sudden shift of his tone, the way those blue eyes darken slightly in her presence, "I have one final request."

Fucking hell, Calliope feels herself leaning closer to him, "Arthur, it's been two days. Our bet's over."

"Then, you can say no."

A mix of curiosity, and maybe also a sense of desperation to feel him close to her again swirls through her body, and she quirks an eyebrow, "Alright, what is it?"

His eyes move to her lips, and not like a quick mistaken glance. Like he's restraining himself from covering them with his own, "Kiss me." Calliope is taken aback for a moment as he smirks. "I know you want to."

"And how would you know that?"

"Because if you didn't, you would've slapped me in the face already."

"I still might."

"Well, which is it, sweetheart—"

"Don't call me that."

She could slap him right now. From the way he's smirking at her and the way he's not even trying to hide how often he's looking at her lips. God, he can be so infuriating.

The Prince holds up his hands as he stands from the bed, "I'll just leave you be, then."

"Good."

"Fine."

"Fantastic," Calliope watches him back away, pleased with himself for the reaction he was able to evoke, but now all she can picture is that damn kiss they shared before the joust, and she can't get it out of her head. Every bone in her body is pulling her towards him as he gets to the door, putting his palm on the handle, and he hears her say. "Wait." Calliope has no idea how she ended up halfway across the room, but he's standing there, in front of her, eyebrows raised as she grits her teeth, "You drive me so fucking crazy, Arthur Pendragon."

"Well, the feeling is very mutual."

"Shut up."

"You know, you can be extremely rude, and I don't appreciate—"

This time, she doesn't tell him to shut up. She silences him with her lips.

The Prince lets out a small breath of shock before his hands are tangling in her hair, pulling her closer. Once again, every vein in Calliope's body is on fire, and all she can think about is how perfect his lips feel against hers, and how she never wants to come up for air.

His lips move against hers as the heat rises to her chest and then every part of her being. It's as if time has stilled and the only moment that even matter is this—them, right now.

When her lips part, allowing his tongue to dance with her own, she can feel her insides melting. She lets him walk her across the room until the back of her thighs hit the bed, their lips never breaking. As he lowers her onto the mattress, he begins trailing open-mouthed kisses against her jawline and neck, and Calliope thinks she may fall into one million tiny pieces then and there under his touch as one of his hands grips her waist and the other trails up her thigh.

Why she denied this for so long, she'll never know, because his body pressed against hers feels like the best sensation she's ever experienced. Sure, Calliope has been with other men—one night stands when she was desperate for companionship—but it was meaningless.

This is something entirely different. She's surrounded by his woodsy scent and his kiss is intoxicating like a haze overcoming her mind that she is all too tempted to give into completely.

And she knows, deep down, the haze could destroy her, but right now, she really couldn't care less.

♛ ♛ ♛

I was determined to get this chapter out before the end of the weekend, so here ya go!! i'm super excited for the next few chapters because it's the lancelot and guinevere episode which is going to be fun to write and after that we'll have 1 or 2 chapters dealing with some calliope content.
remember to vote and leave your thoughts in ye comments ;))