chapter nineteen!
019. how to offend women

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     ARTHUR WAS IN lesser spirits the next morning. His game of chess with Ronyn became feeble and he was sure his friend was cheating behind his gaze; knocking over his Knights and Castles without him knowing. He couldn't care less if he was. Arthur was fuming over last night. He couldn't help but think▬it wasn't Odette's place to ask such questions! What did she believe she'd get out of him? Something sentimental? Him to admit that any man looks upon a woman and is taken by her looks first before he makes an advance? Did she want him to call her beautiful? He was so confused, and so frustrated by their conversation he wanted to find her and argue back▬and that frustrated him even more. Arthur has never met anyone more infuriating than Odette. Not Morgana, not even Merlin. She made his blood boil and his mind wander. She occupied his thoughts when he believed he would die and occupied his thoughts as the reason he wished he could step off the battlements to make her stop talking. She was naive, and she was energetic, and she was childish▬she smiled brightly and she laughed loudly. And sometimes, she says things that make him rethink his decisions, and he hated that because he admired it at the same time.

    And now she was upset with him.

    "What is wrong with her?" Arthur was saying as he paced around his room. He passed the chess board and moved a single pawn to keep Ronyn happy. "She comes into my chambers and demands answers for my feelings▬who does she think she is?"

    "She's Odette," said Ronyn, not really paying too much attention as he sneakily took the opportunity to move his Knight closer to Arthur's Queen. Ronyn was actually very good at chess (when he wasn't too busy trying to cheat). "She might hold her tongue but she's still opinionated."

     Arthur spun back to him, annoyed. "Well, she shouldn't be. I'm a Prince, she's a servant."

    "I thought you didn't care about those things?" Ronyn queried him and he watched, amused as his friend's face went bright red with frustration.

     "I don't!" the Prince exclaimed, growing angry. "I just▬" he pointed a finger at his friend, "▬she thinks she knows everything with this▬this naive, ignorant hopeful idea of the world. We're not living in a bloody fairytale!"

     Ronyn hummed, waiting until his friend turned around again to gesture angrily at Merlin who listened, silent before knocking down another Pawn. The manservant was awkwardly trying to grab Arthur's attention in order to dress him in his armour for a knighting ceremony that would be happening soon, but the Prince was not in the mood for any of it.

    "And now she's upset with me," he gestured angrily at his chest. "Can you believe that?"

    "Depends ..." Ronyn leaned back in his chair, brow arched. "What did you say?"

    Arthur stopped pacing. He pursed his lips, hesitant in answering Ronyn's question▬which told him that he had said something that would make perfect sense as to why Odette was upset with him. Merlin made a subtle face, believing from the beginning of when Arthur started to vent that Odette wasn't completely in the wrong. "I ... might have said a few things that now I think back on it, could've inconsiderate."

     Ronyn crossed his arms. He tried very hard not to wince at the short ache of pain in his shoulder. "What happened?"

     Arthur sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Merlin arched a brow at him. "She ... asked me whether all I cared about was whether a woman was beautiful ... and ... I said ..." He winced to himself, not wanting to admit to his mistake.

     Merlin stared at him, "What did you say...?"

    The Prince stood there for a moment, chewing on his words before finally muttering, "I said: what else is there...?"

     Both Ronyn and Merlin's eyes widened. "You said what?" let out Ronyn, quite shocked. Arthur sighed, closing his eyes in exasperation. "Arthur▬" his friend forgot his chess game to lean forward and tell him, "▬you don't say that to a girl."

     "She asks you what else?" Merlin dropped the armour onto the bed and Arthur slowly turned to scowl at him. "And you say: what else is there?"

      Arthur continued to glower at him. Merlin made a face, shaking his head and turning away, "You should write a book," he said. "'How to Offend Women in Five Syllables or Less'▬"

     "Shut up, Merlin."

    Ronyn sighed and gestured to the game they were playing, "Your turn, My Lord."

    Arthur sighed and knocked over one of his pawns without even a mere glance. Ronyn stared, rather shocked. "I don't know what she wanted me to say? I've only just met Sophia! I can't just say my advances weren't because she was beautiful."

    Ronyn took the chance and reached out and snatched his friend's Queen off the other end of the board without him looking. He didn't like playing one-sided chess. He showed it as if he had won it by reasonable means. "You've lost your Queen, Sire."

    The Prince scoffed, muttering to himself, "I'm glad I don't have a real Queen to lose."

    "Yes, quite right▬because you'll lose her as soon as you open your mouth, it would seem."

    Arthur eyed his servant for the comment over his shoulder, "Merlin," he said, full of warning.

    "She says," Merlin went on again, never so disappointed in his life, "'is beauty all that matters to you', and your brilliant mind said: 'what else is there'?"

    The Prince angrily tugged his jacket sleeves, "You might not need to try to attack me to get thrown into the pillory this time, Merlin."

    "Why not just go and apologise to her?"

    Arthur made a face, scoffing so loudly it was almost a snort. "Apologise to Odette? Please, I'd rather step off the tallest tower."

     Merlin threw his hands up, exasperated. "Is that really the worst thing you can do?"

     "Yes," said the Prince and his frown deepened, rather confused. "She▬" he didn't know how to explain it, waving his hands about in rigid frustration. "She just▬I don't know! She makes apologising very hard."

     The warlock didn't say anything, but he had a feeling that was so because Odette was right. And Arthur couldn't admit to her he was wrong▬couldn't admit that she saw right through him; knew him even now, after all these years. Merlin could tell she made what Arthur believed to be vulnerable.

     Merlin suddenly felt a little less eager to help Arthur get closer to Aulfric's daughter. So, he grabbed the armour and shook it again, "How about you go and apologise to Odette after your father bestows a knighthood on one of your men this morning?"

      Arthur took a breath, then he shook his head. "I'm giving it a miss."

    Meanwhile, Ronyn knocked his King off the chess board and onto the floor. "And you've lost. Perhaps you should get to writing that book?"

     "Won't the King mind?" Merlin sighed, more than exasperated at this point.

     Arthur smacked Ronyn's head in passing for his previous comment, "Not if you cover for me again?" he arched a brow back at his manservant who stared, bewildered. "By the way, thanks for yesterday. I heard you ended up in the stocks▬bad luck."

     Merlin only shook his head, knowing it was not at all genuine. "They were throwing potatoes at me. It's only supposed to be rotten fruit!"

    Ronyn snorted, "My▬I would have loved to see that." He snickered when Merlin shot him his own glower. "Oh, come on! It's all a laugh▬I'm not sure there's any hard and fast rules, Merlin."

     "Tell that to my bruises▬" the warlock pointed angrily at the purple bruise forming on his jaw.

     "Well, if it is any consolation," said Prince Arthur▬quite glad the conversation had moved away from Odette, "I think it was worth it."

      Not in the mood, Merlin started to put away his armour. "Really? It went well?"

     "Great," said Arthur▬Odette far from his mind now as he thought back to the kiss Sophia pressed onto his cheek; like a butterfly tickling his skin. "Fantastic ... she's incredible."

     Both Merlin and Ronyn arched a curious brow▬finding the sudden look upon Arthur's face rather strange. They shared a quick glance. "So..." Merlin asked slowly. "You see something else other than Sophia's beauty?"

     "Of course, I do, Merlin," grumbled Arthur again, his mood abruptly changed. "She's like..." he held out a hand to him and then faltered, trying to think of the right word. Nothing came out. "Well▬you know. And how about ...?" he trailed off once more. "And then ... I mean, right?"

     Ronyn went blank face. Sarcastically, he stated: "Yes, I am well-versed all of the sudden."

    The Prince threw his hands down, "I don't know how to say it!" He pointed at Merlin. "But▬if you get me out of that knighting ceremony today, Merlin, I'll show it to her! I'll show Odette just how much I care about Sophia▬for more than her beauty and I won't have to apologise!" He clapped Merlin on the shoulder and rushed out of the room before he even got the chance to even agree to his idea.

     Ronyn was very confused. He turned to Merlin who watched Arthur go, shaking his head, quite incredulous. "Please explain to me what just happened, because I'm not so sure▬are we talking about Sophia or are we talking about Odette?"

     Merlin sighed, already mentally preparing himself for another day in the stocks. "I have no idea. But I think he just added another chapter to his book."

     "I think the book should be called: How to Offend Odette in Five Syllables or Less ... Historically, I think he's been really great at that ..."

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    RONYN WAS STILL trying very hard not to find Odette somewhere and tell her that Arthur was being very misguided in his own mind▬he figured she'd appreciate knowing she had angered him. Even when they were younger, the two of them were as delicate as a goblet sitting on the very edge of a table. Half-off, and half-on. One touch either way, and they could either fall off onto the floor, or support themselves more onto the wooden ledge. More often than not, Ronyn would watch either one of them push the other to fall down. They'd argue, Arthur would hurt Odette's feelings, and she'd cry (or she would smack him with a wooden sword such as when they were very young). It used to frustrate him. Sometimes, it still did. He would stand between them two of them, hearing Arthur say this, and Odette say that▬until the next moment, he saw Arthur place some stone she found pretty in her basket in the castle grounds outside the gaze of his father.

     They complimented each other, and yet, at the same time, they couldn't be more different▬standing on opposite edges of a gaping chasm. Odette searched for her sunrise, desperate to forget everything that haunted her. Arthur was determined to fight against everything that haunted him: his mother's death, his father's distance and figure to which he must one day live up to. She wore her heart on her sleeve, he kept his hidden underneath layers of duty and expectation▬and that was where they clashed; again and again and again. And yet they were both headstrong, both fierce in their care and protection, and both dutiful in their own agendas. In many ways, they always understood each other, and at the same time, that truth always kept pushing them apart.

     (Perhaps Ronyn should be the one to write the book).

     He's watched the both of them say they hate each other, and then watch Arthur send Owain off to stable duty after he scared Odette into spilling wine all over her skirts. He'd watch Odette curse everything she despised about Arthur's being, and then hear her defend him with every breath in her body. He knew why the Prince found it hard to apologise to her. He knew why he couldn't answer her questions. He knew what he was telling himself in order to steer away from a truth he could never admit, even if he wanted to. And Ronyn knew why Odette wanted an answer. It was easy for him to see after all these years, and the years in between▬it was easy for him to know. But he also knew ignorance was bliss, especially when it came to a Prince and a serving girl.

    And so he'll watch them fight all over again. And Ronyn will watch Odette bite back tears as she was disappointed by Arthur's indignant responses. He will listen to Arthur vent about her and everything she does, chiding and scolding her in his best attempt to disguise all that he felt. And then he'll watch the two of them move on from it. Odette might relent, or Arthur might apologise in his actions and never his words, and then he'll watch the cycle pass all over again; like daylight into night▬consistent and familiar.

    Though, despite feeling as though he has figured out every secret of his two friends, as he came to a stop outside his manor and saw her▬of all people▬, Ronyn realised he was far from figuring out his own.

     He frowned, slipping in through the gates to watch her gaze upwards at the old stone foundations that dated back to when Camelot was first built. A breath of awe glazed over Guinevere Smith's features, and the blacksmith's daughter looked almost impressed by the elaborate designs that beat every other Upper Town home. She gazed up to the very top of his home; eyes wandering up the bricks to the red-tiled roof, biting back her impressed smile at all the windows and turrets that mimicked (and blended well) with the citadel wall. The sunlight dawned down onto her, and Ronyn was breathless ... standing there, she looked achingly beautiful in every way. Like a living dream with her tight-knit curls falling down her back and framing her face▬

     And it hurt just as much as it stunned him. Because she hated him, and he thought her beautiful when he▬as a Lord▬should never. And she hated him. She disliked him. She despised his very being and yet▬still▬he had dreamt of her. He had stared up at his ceiling the past weeks since the courtyard late at night, and instead of sneaking off to the Lower Town tavern, he thought of her.

     He slowly walked up the road, unable to take his eyes off her as she turned to the flowerbed beside the fountain▬Gwen quickly made sure no one was watching before picking off one of the flowers, setting it underneath the cloth she had in her basket.

     Ronyn bit back his own smile and decided to speak up then, "Have you come to steal my flowers?"

    Gwen spun around so quickly he thought she'd fall right over. When she saw him, she didn't even curtsey. "Er▬no," she told him. "No▬I wasn't▬I wouldn't. I'm not a thief."

     He nodded, not believing her, "That is strange▬as I seemed to have caught you in the act."

     "You did not, My Lord."

     "I did not?"

     She shook her head, "You did not."

     He fought the urge to chuckle. Gwen pursed her lips, hating the look on his face. She shuffled on her feet and fixed her grip on her basket where a long object extended out from either end wrapped up in a woollen blanket. She chewed at her bottom lip before admitting, "I stole a flower▬but I am not a thief. It is▬I was▬I would be giving it to Odette. She got me flowers just yesterday▬Merlin started this game. It isn't really a game, but he calls it 'Flowers Amongst Friends' and no one is ready to admit he started it because he used to fancy Odette so now we get each other flowers all the time from strange places ... but that is not ..." Gwen closed her eyes briefly, scolding herself for telling him. "I didn't come to steal your flower."

     Ronyn's brows furrowed, finding himself taken aback by the lack of insults there were in her ramble of sentences. He breathed a slight chuckle without meaning to, finding the thought of her sneaking flowers around to give to Merlin and Odette as some ongoing game as if they were all children with little to no problems. She, who was mature, and always quite serious, and who Odette called protective and always looking after others ... running around with others' picked flowers hidden in her baskets▬and trying to lie to him in saying she wasn't, and completely failing in her task.

     It was refreshing. To get to see a side of her everyone else saw, and not him (perhaps because she wasn't mad at him for once...).

     He walked up to her and she watched him with pursed lips and a wary gaze▬as if she, herself, wasn't too sure why she wasn't snapping at him for even breathing. "Well, if you are not here to steal my beloved gardener, Mandor's flowers then what brings you this way?"

     She went to argue, until she stopped and Ronyn's brows shot up, not expecting it. Guinevere pursed her lips yet again and pulled her basket closer to her. "I▬My father finished your sword. I came to deliver it."

     Ronyn made a face, watching her draw it out with the accuracy the same that of any skilled swordsman. "I thought I was making a visit to the forge to pick it up▬"

     "Yes, well, I thought I would bring it over," she said quickly and sternly, though she wasn't meeting his gaze. "Here▬" she held it out to him awkwardly. "Hold it, tell me how it feels." She quickly added after a small moment: "Er▬My Lord."

     Ronyn eyed her suspiciously for a moment but wrapped his hand around the handle anyway. His fingers brushed hers, and he told himself to ignore the way hers felt against his. He held the blade up, quite impressed as he tested the balance. He gave it a spin in his wrist only to hiss out at the sudden pain in his shoulder. He stopped immediately, bringing his arm to his chest. The sword fell limp and he turned away from Gwen, not wanting her to see how much the wound pained him still.

     "Oh▬I▬I'm sorry," Guinevere rushed out. "I didn't even think that you shouldn't be▬I'm sorry▬"

     "No, no, it's okay," Ronyn shook his head, quickly clearing his throat. He slowly sheathed the blade into the scabbard it came with, careful not to cause himself more pain. "It▬uh▬it balances well. Thank you."

    Gwen nodded. She fiddled with the fabric in her basket. Her fingers had slipped under and played with the leaves of the flower she picked. There was silence between them. Ronyn found himself wanting to glance back, in case anyone might be watching, but before he could, she spoke up: "My Lord?"

    "Yes?" he spun back to her▬a bit too quickly, he realised, when her eyes widened a little, startled.

     It took her a moment to say what she wanted to, and in this moment, where they stood alone in front of his home, Gwen swallowed down all of her dislike to let him know, just once: "What you did ... that day in the courtyard ... it was very good of you▬very brave, of you, I mean."

     Ronyn's frown returned. He titled his head slightly. He was told he was brave for what he did. He was told he had done the right thing. He was praised and he was blessed, and he was told his father would be proud of him▬so much he wished to never hear those words again. And yet ... when she spoke them ... it was the only time he wanted to hear them. The only time they meant anything.

     Guinevere was genuine. She was the most genuine person he has ever met.

    "I ... uh ..." he swallowed harshly. He wanted to look away from her, but he did not. Because at the same time, looking away was far from what he wanted. Ronyn managed to hide the strange feeling in his chest to chuckle and joke: "I▬is that a compliment, Guinevere Smith?"

     She realised what he was doing and immediately, her soft look turned into a scowl▬and just like that, the smile on his face turned into a gentle grin. "Uh▬no, not really."

    "Oh," he nodded, "good then. For a moment there I thought you did not hate me."

    Without a beat, she quipped back, "Oh, I very much dislike you, My Lord."

    "A relief," joked Ronyn, "otherwise I fear I might've had to take you to the Court Physician for a fever." He locked gazes with her again, grinning. And realising the amusement to his tone, Guinevere couldn't stop the chuckle that breathed through her lips, shaking her head at him in disbelief.

     The sound of it was like music. And it pained him, nonetheless.

     But he didn't let it in this moment. Ronyn continued to smile at her, and for once, she was chuckling at him, and she smiled back▬and neither looked away. For once, there was no dislike felt between Guinevere Smith and Ronyn Vecentia.

     Until the moment ended and Guinevere looked away. She frowned at herself and shook her head, stepping back and cleaning her throat. "Oh▬I should▬I should get going▬Morgana is waiting for me."

     Ronyn's heart skipped a beat, not wanting her to go. For he knew as soon as she did, things would be as they always were. She would scowl at him, and she would insult him▬and she would hate him for things he knew couldn't be changed. "Gwen, wait▬"

     But she didn't. She curtsied and rushed past him, making her way back to the castle at a slight jog. And for once, it wasn't Ronyn who was running away.

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    WHEN MERLIN RETURNED, aching and covered in rotten fruit (and bruises from all the potatoes), he was surprised to see Odette sitting with Gaius at the physician's table. She was picking at some bread, probably one of the few things she's eaten today. Merlin could see she was upset from her conversation with Arthur, and he stopped as soon as the door swung open, not sure how she'd react to see him after covering for Arthur yet another day. Though, when she glanced up at him, she made no comment▬she didn't even laugh at the state of him, which told Merlin she was really upset.

    Gaius noticed the stained food all down the collar of his tunic and he sighed, disappointed, "Not again Merlin, surely..."

     Closing the door, Merlin marched straight over to the wooden basin and jug of water set up on the far bench. "You would think," he said as he did, "that the appeal of pelting the same person with fruit would wear off after a while, but▬oh, no."

    He poured the water into the basin and ducked his hair right in, starting to pick away at the seeds that had gotten stuck amongst his dark strands. Odette watched him curiously, "I heard Arthur wasn't at the knighting ceremony▬I mean, I saw ... since I was there with Morgana ..."

     Merlin looked up, his hair dripping to meet her gaze. "He spent the day with Sophia again." He watched his friend carefully and noticed the slight roll to her eyes. "I heard what he said▬Sophia doesn't deserve him, honestly."

     He managed to get a slight amused smile from her, and Merlin knew he achieved at least something within his day. He went back to cleaning his hair; he quickly splashed some of the water to his cheeks, rubbing off the stain of rotten fruit.

     "So, you helped him?" Gaius asked, setting aside his reading glasses and linking his fingers together under his chin.

    "I'm his servant," said Merlin. "I had too."

    "You shouldn't have done that, Merlin," said his uncle and the warlock glanced up, confused. Even Odette frowned, her attention slipping away from her food and onto the physician sitting beside her. "I fear that Sophia may not be all that she seems."

     Merlin pulled away from the water. "Why?"

    "What do you know about Seers?"

     Odette pursed her lips, quickly looking away▬she knew exactly who Gaius was talking about the moment he said the word. She tried to suddenly seem very interested in the pile of books beside her. She dared not say a word on how Morgana told her of her dream▬and how she believed that she could see the future, too ... but was always too scared to admit it. Hearing Gaius speak of it now, made it terrifyingly real.

     Merlin shrugged, "Not much ..." he began slowly. "They're supposed to be able to see the future? Like prophets?"

     "It's said to be an innate ability," explained Gaius. "Those who have it are born that way. Some aren't even aware that what they see is the future. It comes to them in their dreams."

     "What's this got to do with Sophia?"

    "The night before she and Aulfric came to Camelot, Morgana had a dream. Sophia was in it."

     Merlin's eyes widened. His breath hitched, "Before she arrived in Camelot?"

    Slowly, Gaius came to sit on the other side of his table, nodding at Merlin's words with a grave breath. Odette watched, not able to keep her attention fixed on her bowl for long▬she was bated with curiosity. Merlin met her gaze, and they shared a worried exchange. "I've been watching Morgana since she was very young. And though I've tried to persuade myself otherwise, I realised that some of the things she said she'd dreamt came to pass."

     Merlin walked over to sit with them, he and Odette silent as Gaius continued: "I kept it secret from Uther, of course. The gift of prophecy is too close to the work of magic."

     "You think Morgana is a Seer?" asked Odette quietly, praying that no matter what has been said, and what she has thought, Gaius would say no. But at the look on his face, she knew all of her concerns were true.

    "I don't think it," he said to her. "I fear it. Morgana said she dreamt that Sophia killed Arthur."

     "That she drowned him," muttered Odette and her head fell in her hands, taking a deep breath. She shook it, not wanting any of this to be true. "Morgana told me her dream▬I thought▬I begged▬that it was just that ... a nightmare, but ..." she glanced back up, a little weary, "... I've never seen her wake up that scared. She was inconsolable..."

     Merlin's eyes flashed with fresh fear. All jokes aside. All mean comments forgotten. When Arthur's life was in possible danger, Merlin and Odette were rigid with desperation to try and stop it. "Perhaps▬perhaps it was just a dream? Maybe the woman Morgana saw just looked like Sophia...?"

     "That's what I had hoped," said Gaius. "But Aulfric caught me in Sophia's room and in a flash of anger his eyes changed colour."

     Merlin's eyes narrowed, "Who are they?"

     "It's not who they are that worries me ... it's what they want with Arthur."

     Merlin thought on this for a moment longer. Then, his eyes drifted back up to Odette's opposite, and she knew what he was thinking.

     She set her food aside and leaned forward, "Are we going on an adventure?"

     "Adventure," agreed Merlin.

     Odette subtly cheered despite the situation before scoffing down the rest of her food, wanting to be very much ready for whatever▬or wherever▬Sophia and Aulfric will take them.

     The two young servants left Gaius's chambers later that night, slipping through the castle hallways. They made their way towards Sophia's room▬situated right beside the Prince's own in the East Wing. Odette followed Merlin at a shuffle right behind him, peering over his shoulder at every corner to check whether there were any guards that he missed. Often almost making him stumble right out into the hallway. Merlin glanced back at her, confused.

     "What?" she whispered right by the corridor outside the Prince's chambers. "Two pairs of eyes are better than one."

     "Yes," said Merlin sarcastically, "better when you're not shoving me in order to see. And if two pairs of eyes are better than one shouldn't you be the one who watches my back?"

     Odette frowned, "But I watched your back last time we followed someone."

     "Following the cook in order to steal her pies doesn't count."

     "You still said it was an adventure."

     "Yes, and Arthur caught us because you didn't watch my back."

     Odette gaped at him, "What? I was watching your back. Arthur came out of nowhere."

     "He was right behind you▬!"

     "Shhh!"

     She slapped his shoulder to tell him to be quiet when she heard footsteps around the corner. Merlin clamped his mouth shut and the two servants carefully peered around the stone edge to see who was in the hallway. They shared an equal incredulous, and yet suspicious look to find Aulfric pacing the floor of the corridor right outside his daughter's chambers. He looked anxious▬rushing back and forth ... back and forth ... as if something ticked far away to a near end; he had some place to be, and some part of it had something to do with whatever was happening inside those bedchamber doors.

     Odette arched a brow, her cheek pressed against Merlin's arm as she peeked out behind him to see even more (since he was rather tall).

    When Sophia's door opened and she emerged from within, her father stopped pacing and spun to face her, anxiously wringing his fingers around his twisted root staff handle.

    She stopped in front of him and said, "He's ready." Odette's brows furrowed, intrigued by what she meant. She tried to see inside her chambers; the candles were lit, but she could see no further than that▬but she knew Arthur was in there. "Tomorrow he will do what we need him to."

     Aulfric nodded, relieved. His daughter smiled. "Good. You have done well." He spun on his heel and started down the hallway, leaving his daughter by her doorway, "I must go to the Elders."

      Elders? Odette mouthed to Merlin. He shrugged.

     They waited until Sophia had disappeared back into her chambers and closed the door before they started to follow Aulfric down the hallway. They kept at a safe distance, silent and sombre as they made sure not to be seen. This wasn't just following the castle cook in order to steal her famous pies▬wherever they were going, following Aulfric into the night; it was dangerous, and it could just get them killed if they were caught. But with Arthur's life in danger, their fear passed little thought. They had to figure out what the two of them were planning, and how to stop it before it was too late; before Morgana's dream would come true.

     They followed him down flights of stairs and out of the castle▬they hid past the patrolling guards and slipped into the depths of the back streets of the Lower Town, heading down the road to the Darkling Woods. Odette shivered in the cold, but she kept on going, walking alongside Merlin with barely any light to guide them. She glanced back over her shoulder at the citadel and its candle-lit windows that started to get further and further away as they left the safety of Camelot's walls. She's never left them such as this. Mostly she'd leave with Morgana and Guinevere yearly towards her father's grave, accompanied by guards, knights and sometimes Arthur; on a horse that was well-trained and with easy access back home. Never on foot, and never in the dark. Not when bandits, creatures and other dangerous things lurked in the shadows of these Darkling trees, completely blocking off the moonlight and leaving them in almost complete pitch darkness.

     And when they stepped off the road; delving in to the depths of the woods, Odette very well knew they were heading somewhere they were not supposed to be privy to. She and Merlin treaded carefully on the forest floor; stepping softly onto fallen leaves and twigs as they continued to take the path Aulfric led.

     Odette stayed with Merlin as they watched Aulfric leave the woodland; gazing through swaying branches and leaves into a clearing far from the main road into Camelot. Her eyes widened, feeling something strange and powerful wash over her▬a chill spread down her spine as she set her gaze upon a vast lake. It stretched across the clearing further into the forest where mist lifted off its surface in low, mysterious clouds. What made it so eerie was that the water did not ripple, it did not move▬it was silent; it's reflection as if a pool into another world: still pictures of leaves that moved in the wind, clouds that drifted overhead and insects that flew over ... in the glimpse of the water, they were a frozen mirror.

     Aulfric stood still at the lake's edge, setting his staff against the loose pebbles on the shore. He called out into the darkness, "I seek an audience with the Sidhe Elders!" Ancient words left his tongue▬an incantation Odette couldn't understand. He cried them out, and as his voice echoed across the still lake, the water began to shimmer.

    Glimmering blue-white lights danced across the centre of the lake, expanding and rippling into a whirlpool of magical colour▬the mist seemed to spin; twisting up into the dark night where it rustled the leaves and made the wind pick up around Odette's skirts. The entire clearing glowed a ghostly, translucent blue that completely basked Merlin's face beside her▬and she was sure did the same to her own.

    Her lips parted into a silent gasp as lights rose from the water; droplets that blurred and darted in and out▬here and there, up and down; buzzing in her ears. They looked as if the stars from the sky above had dropped down to perform a blinding dance across the water's surface. She could not see what they were▬she could not even keep up with them. They moved faster than light. But she could feel them; she could feel their power just as she could feel the mysterious aroma of the lake ... they belonged here, and this was their hidden secret world. Odette knew she was blessed to see it.

    She felt Merlin take her hand, and her limbs went alight with flame; running through her like melted iron in a blacksmith's shop. Her breath trembled, her eyes fluttering close as his magic ignited within her and when she opened them again ... the entire world around her slowed to an extraordinary splendour.

    Her heart-beat paced, loud in her ears, and yet at a gentile speed. The wind around her turned into a breathless whisper, and she was able see the world a mere mortal such as her could never. Odette was blessed with the sight of pure, real magic that shimmered and glinted in the beautiful night. For the bright lights were not stars. She could see them now ... she could see the flutter of their golden wings, their pointed toes brushing the lake surface▬their skin as blue as the waters of their home: faeries like those spoken of in every fairytale Odette was told weren't true. Small, delicate, and gorgeous ... and yet in such a haunting way: their features were pointed, ears large and sharp▬their limbs transparent to which the world around them reflected through their bodies.

    Underneath the water's surface, Odette could see something different. Her face turned into a delightful beam filled with awe as she noticed little lights in the nooks and crannies of the branches of the trees mirrored from above; lamps and cities of miniature homes sheltered within the ferns and fallen leaves. An entire kingdom of magic. Right here, in this secluded lake far off the main Camelot road.

    "I come before you to plead!" Aulfric called to the faeries gliding across the lake. "For the chance to win passage back to Avalon, and a life of immortality!"

    One faerie emerged▬the largest of them all; Odette could tell he lead them all. The King of the Faeries hovered before Aulfric Tír Mòr. He brandished a long and slender blue finger at his pointed face. "Your punishment for killing another Sidhe is a mortal body and a mortal life. You will never be able to return to Avalon!"

    The Sidhe, Odette took in with amazement. She was gazing at the Sidhe▬faeries of ancient folklore that were whispered to be the last of the Tuatha Dé Danann, magical beings of the once forgotten lands. Gaius used to tell her about them when she was younger, listening to the stories in his many books as a young child who was too scared to sleep in the dark while her mother was busy with work.

    Aulfric shook his head at the King, almost miserable in the mythical blue glow of the lake. "The crime was mine," he said, "not my daughter's."

    The leader of the Sidhe hovered for a moment in silence, considering his words before saying: "The Gates of Avalon remain closed to your daughter unless the soul of a mortal prince be offered up to them."

    Aulfric Tír Mòr slumped with relief. He clasped his hands around his staff, blessing the King with many thanks of gratitude flowing from his lips, "Thank you! Thank you! An immortal life for my daughter is all that I desire so I promise you the soul of the greatest Prince of all: Arthur Pendragon!"

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"AVALON!"

    When Odette and Merlin returned to Gaius's chambers that night, they were both stunned by what they had seen. The Lady Morgana's young second handmaiden still held a pounding heart, both struck with awe and yet frantic with a horrified fear▬for how could something so beautiful, and so wondrous be a harbinger of such evil to which passage into its lands would cost the life of Arthur? Aulfric and Sophia were going to sacrifice him in order to return; enchant his mind and kill him. There was nothing beautiful about that, and it left Odette haunted with the knowledge of what they will do, and at a loss of how she and Merlin will stop it.

But Gaius ... he was starstruck by their recount. Breathless and in disbelief, he shook his head at them, "Avalon▬what you saw at the lake. It's Avalon▬it must be!"

Merlin, still heaving for their lengthy sprint straight back to the palace before daylight would break through the clouds, huffed a long, tired breath, "What's▬?"

"The Land of Eternal Youth!" exclaimed Gaius in awe. "Mortals are only supposed to glimpse it the moment before death!"

Odette's eyes widened. Her heart seemed to stop for a horrifying second, and she had to press her hands on her chest to double-check whether she was still alive and well. Once she was sure, she glanced back up to meet Gaius's gaze, "But▬but I'm still alive ... aren't I?"

  "Extraordinary! What did it look like?"

"What▬?" Odette was at a loss for words. She threw her hands up in exasperation, "Gaius! Does it matter▬? They're going to sacrifice Arthur▬!"

"And," added Merlin, flowing along with her sentence quite well, "we don't even know who they are yet!"

Gaius held up a finger to stop him, "We do now," he said and marched towards the pile of books and scrips he had spread out on his desk. Odette and Merlin followed. "I found writing like this on the top of Aulfric's staff. It's Ogham▬an ancient script." They gazed over his shoulder as he read the script out loud before quickly translating: "'To hold life and death in your hands'. From the writing on his staff and what you saw at the lake, I'm afraid I'm now certain we're dealing with the Sidhe."

"They said that at the lake," murmured Odette. "You're making it sound like this is not good."

"They're masters of enchantment, Odette."

Merlin's eyes widened, "You think Arthur's been enchanted?"

Gaius nodded, "Almost certainly. I'm afraid Morgana's dream is coming true."

Their investigations were cut short when the council was brought together for an early morning hearing. Odette did not accompany Morgana into the chambers, but instead followed Merlin awkwardly into the hallway; tired and rubbing her eyes as the morning sun glared through the tall, narrow windows. When she saw Arthur standing before the court with Sophia and her father at his side, Odette's tired glance turned into a wary frown.

When Ronyn saw them enter, he slipped behind one of the pillars and beckoned them to stand with him. Odette and Merlin shared a glance, but did as he asked, approaching the Lord▬even with no sleep, Odette pushed through to bend her knees. Ronyn just pulled her up by her elbow and asked in a low whisper, "Do either of you know what Arthur is doing?"

Merlin frowned at the Prince standing before the court, matching Odette's suspicion. "No..." he murmured. "I do not..."

Odette continued to watch Sophia with an accusing eye as Arthur spoke: "I requested this audience, Father, to discuss a matter of great importance."

The King glanced up from his papers, arching a curious brow.

"It cannot have escaped your attention that I and Lady Sophia Tír Mòr have grown very close."

Uther breathed a slight chuckle, "Not too close, I hope."

Ronyn started to make a face, as if he understood where this was going before anyone else could. He shook his head, "Oh, no ..." he whispered, wincing, "please do not ask what I believe you're about to ask Arthur..."

"Ask what?" asked Odette in a whisper. The two servants and the Lord Vecentia all peered over the shoulders of the rest of the court▬none of them paying any attention to see them so close.

"We're in love."

Ronyn sighed, disappointed, "He said it."

Odette could see the Lady Morgana's eyes widened, her breath hitching in the back of her throat. She did not share the flicker of amusement the King held at his son's declaration, glancing at her to see whether she was feeling the same. Her gaze did not leave Arthur and Sophia, growing suddenly quite pale.

She, herself, even though deep down she knew Arthur was enchanted, Odette found herself unsettled▬shocked, even, like the breath was taken from her to hear him say it. Her brows furrowed, almost ... hurt ... and yet what for?

He's enchanted, she reassured herself.

Reassure? Why should she even care who he loves and who he does not▬for that lady would not be loved for more than her beauty, as he so fondly told her.

(Why did Odette care so much?)

It confused her▬it rattled her, even. And his next words only just shook her even more:

"Which is why I come before you today to ask your permission to marry."

To marry? She almost staggered, unable to believe what she was hearing. He's enchanted, she reminded herself; a mantra she didn't quite realise she went over again and again in the back of her mind until it was very much in the forefront.

Slowly, Uther broke out into laughter. Hesitant, the rest of the court started to join in, sharing anxious and confused glances as the King's laughter grew and grew until he doubled over in his chair. Arthur watched him, not at all amused. His face was stoic▬something about it didn't seem right. He didn't seem right.

He is enchanted, again and again Odette reminded herself▬no, assured herself. As if it mattered to her▬as if it hurt her. It shouldn't. It really shouldn't.

She was just a servant.

And he wasn't just a Prince. He was Arthur.

"I assume you're joking," the King's laughter slowly softened to chuckles.

But when Arthur shook his head and stated: "No," Uther's smile dropped. "I'm going to marry her."

Sophia's eyes fixed on Arthur intently; there was a slight smirk on her pretty features, turning her soft, plump cheeks rather sharp.

"But you only met two days ago?"

"We're in love."

Uther's brows lifted. He nodded, not believing a word his son said. "In love," he mocked. He leaned slightly in his chair towards Morgana sitting beside him; she was still frowning. Behind her, Guinevere was just as startled. "We had no idea that you were such a romantic, had we, Morgana?"

The King's Ward's frown deepened, "No," she murmured, "he's full of surprises..."

Arthur set his jaw, starting to glower. He clenched his hands in front of him. "I'm going to marry her," he stated firmly. The eyes of the members of the court all widened to see him defy his father. Ronyn grasped Odette's arm, and for a moment, she forgot all about everyone and everything that was happening in the room to be surprised by the action. Until she realised what the tension within the chamber must be doing to him, and the young handmaiden instead took her old friend's hand and gave it a friendly squeeze. Ronyn grasped it, tight, back. "I don't care what either of you think about it."

All amusement left the King's face, and his shoulders stiffened. He started to scowl at his son, "I thought you'd come to ask my permission."

Arthur nodded his head sharply, "Out of courtesy▬" he started to spin on his feet, "▬nothing more." He took Sophia's hand and started to pull her towards the chamber door. Her father followed and Uther sat up in his throne.

"Guards," he ordered calmly.

In an instance, the guards flung out their iron-tipped spears▬they blocked Arthur and Sophia's path, stopping them abruptly right before they could leave. Odette shuffled back and Ronyn followed, not letting go of her hand▬she wasn't sure whether he was trying to protect her from the growing, suffocating air of the room, or whether she was trying to protect him.

The King stood from his chair and marched forward▬the court was achingly silent. Each and every one of them shared wide-eyed, startled looks, knowing better than to speak a word. "Have you forgotten whose court you are standing in?"

Arthur spun back around. He did not let go of Sophia's hand. She hid a coy smirk underneath her long, dark-golden waves that was batted under her pretty lashes. "You won't stop me. If I want to marry her, I will."

Uther set his jaw. With his hands on his hips, he sighed before declaring: "Arrest Sophia and Aulfric Tír Mòr."

The guards blocking the door surged forward, herding the father and daughter together who shared frantic glances▬this was not a part of their plan. Odette wanted to feel satisfaction▬to for once, wish for the King's verdict ... but the young handmaiden felt nothing except surprise of such cruelty. The King didn't know that they were the Sidhe, he did not know of their plan to sacrifice Arthur, enchanting him to their bidding. He still threatened them, just to demand respect from his own son. Despite it all, it was frightening.

Arthur grew restless. He rushed forward, "What are you doing▬?!"

"And inform the executioner his services will be required tomorrow morning."

Merlin's eyes widened, but unlike Odette, she did not see a sliver of regret or pity in his gaze. He pursed his lips and hung his head, watching out of the corner of his vision▬as if with bated breath.

Arthur marched towards his father, furious, "You▬you can't do this!"

"Yes, I can," said the King loudly. "And unless you show me some respect, I will!"

The Prince clenched his jaw. He glowered back at his father for a moment before jutting his chin down. His eyes darted to his boots that shuffled on the stone floor, holding back his tongue. Odette's brows lifted, feeling an ache inside her chest to see him look so small.

Uther watched him, and when he was sure his son would defy him no longer, he nodded at the father and daughter locked by the guard's spears. "Release them."

They stepped back and the King sighed, turning to Arthur to mutter softly, "you've got your whole life ahead of you. Sophia is no doubt your first love ... but she certainly won't be the only one. Enjoy yourself while you can."

There was painful silence. Arthur kept quiet, nodding once more. With a bow, he left the council, and the court was adjourned. Though Odette knew that this was far from over▬just by the look Aulfric and Sophia Tír Mòr shared when they thought no one was looking.

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a/n: *gasps* the line has been said!

lol, i'm sorry, it was way less comedic than i wanted it to be.

arthur is such a little shit in season one but we love him for it. though he better apologise to odette before i make him.

I mean, well, I do anyway, but like that's not the point.

and not ronyn seeing arthur and odette's obvious feelings for each other and scoffing at them for it when he can barely understand his own with gwen when she's out there cursing his name.

merlin and odette being the castle menaces >>>

no one:
me: *works extra hard to be a good writer when something happens that relates directly to arthurian stories*