chapter forty-eight
048. roses come with thorns

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    RONYN USED to think he was a lost cause. Maybe he still was. Arthur never found the ability not to tell him that one day, he might just trip over and onto his own sword from all the times he's tripped in the castle courtyard. But Ronyn has changed. He knew that. He went from sneaking out and drinking himself to oblivion, and then trying to drag himself through council meetings with piercing headaches (that is if he went to those meetings in the first place). He liked running away from his responsibilities because they were his father's responsibilities▬and Ronyn had always sworn to the Lord he'd never be like his father in any way. He'd never raise his voice, he'd never yell, he'd never lift a single hand up and bring it down on any innocent person; a woman, a child▬and most definitely not his own family to intimidate, or to establish authority or discipline. Then his father died, and Ronyn was thrown into the name his father carried with a dreadful shadow Ronyn was supposed to follow, and it sent him into a spiral. What if he was like his father more than he believed? And if he was, what did that make him? A horrible person? That man still haunted him from the grave▬he never left, and it made Ronyn on edge with every breath he took and exhaled.

    There were so many things he had wanted to be. He had wanted to be a Knight. He had wanted to explore and adventure. He had wanted to live his life with a breath of freedom he never experienced before▬and then once again, his father had caged him in; Ronyn's name and birthright had locked and chained him down, forced him to become somebody with a responsibility on his shoulders he had no way to shake off. He had to just accept that▬and accepting that was always hard. Even now, still, Ronyn would glance out of the window of his study and wonder what would happen if he just took his gelding and rode▬galloped and followed the setting sun to see where it took him. But if he did, who would take his place? One of his cousins? A man whom his mother and sister had never met but suddenly had to listen to and call him master? No. That was enough to keep Ronyn where he was. That was enough to keep him from being a lost cause, he was sure of that.

    Though, it didn't stop him from sneaking out. Maybe his mother and sister still believed he was getting drunk and falling asleep near the pigs at the Lower Town taverns▬Ronyn can handle that. If they never knew the truth, the truth would ruin one of the few good things he has managed to find since his life was thrown around. There was one more person who seemed to keep Ronyn from sinking under▬from letting the hauntings of his father control his life and make him run away forever. A young lady who kept Ronyn on his feet and down on earth▬who helped him keep his head straight on his shoulders. Her sense of duty and maturity was perhaps something she should have never had to develop, but she has▬and those things became a realisation; a looking glass into Ronyn's self and where he needed to grow himself. He had been scared at first, but now, he found it comforting to be understood and seen for himself.

    When he saw the King's Ward, the beautiful Lady Morgana Le Fay wandering the castle gardens with just her second handmaiden, Odette, at her side, Ronyn knew where Morgana's first handmaiden would be.

    He glanced around the empty corridor he found himself in, making sure he was alone before he quietly ducked inside the open chamber. For the past week, it had been the home of a travelling singer who had come to sing for some feast (Ronyn cannot remember)▬and now, as the castle and city calmed down and returned to normal, the visitors left and returned to their travels, or back home. And as they left, servants returned to their chambers to clean them and change the sheets▬to make sure they were ready for the next visitor who might sleep on the luxurious pillows and eat at the table. This is where Ronyn found the stunning and gentile Guinevere Smith. She didn't see him, her dark brown curls falling gently out of her twist decorated with flowers and little precious pins which had belonged to her mother, or Morgana had given her after she no longer had a use for them. The flowers continued in a subtle, delicate stitch on the bodice of her lavender dress.

    Ronyn bit back a smile as he carefully walked up behind her while she flattened the new covers of the bed. Before she could even realise someone was behind her, he gently placed his hands over her eyes. Guinevere stiffened, surprised and he quickly leaned his head down and murmured into her ear: "You look beautiful."

    He stole a quick kiss to her temple before she spun around, surprised to see him. Guinevere looked up with that wide-eyed, shocked look where her lips parted in a silent gasp as if he had committed some sort of crime▬and it always made him want to laugh with a light chest. "Ronyn!" she whispered, horrified and he couldn't help but chuckle in the back of his throat. She lightly smacked his chest. "You cannot be here!"

    "I wished to see you," he replied with playful innocence in the same soft voice. He pouted, knowing it would make her roll her eyes with a smile. "Is it a crime that I wish to see a beautiful lady such as yourself, Guinevere?"

    He grinned when she rolled her eyes again with a soft blush on her cheeks. "Now you are distracting me and being obnoxious."

    "Ah," he held up a finger, "but you love it. Besides," Ronyn rested his hands on her shoulders and squeezed them, making Guinevere look up at him with a little smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I accompanied Adelynn to Gaius's chambers and attended a council meeting, I was in the castle anyway. Though I would come just to see you, you must know. I would make excuses to see you."

    Guinevere watched him, almost unsure of something. She pursed her lips and murmured. "You do not need to feel as though you have to make time for me..."

    "I always have time for you," Ronyn told her gently. "I do not need to make time, I have it. I will be swarmed with budgeting and hunting trips and council meetings▬and whatever else there might be▬and still have time to see you."

    Her unsure gaze softened, turning delicate like the lavender colour she wore. Ronyn smiled and cupped her cheeks, enamoured by her beauty and her warm heart. Taking this moment they had alone, with no one watching and no fear of their secret being found out, he leaned in and kissed the sweet Guinevere with a soft and gentle touch▬a kiss which very much reminded him of her. 

    When he pulled away, he saw Gwen's smile, and it made his heart skip a beat in a song Ronyn's never heard before▬but he very much liked it. He never wanted to stop listening to it. And when he saw her smile and the way it brightened up her entire face, Ronyn never wanted to leave her, either. And yet, he knew he must. Their time together was always limited, and it pained him▬but it also always gave him hope to keep trying; to wait, even if he was old and grey, for Guinevere Smith. Just like she has promised to wait for him. 

    "I must go," he said to her, though he did not leave.

    Guinevere arched an amused brow at his hesitation. "Yes?"

    Ronyn nodded. "Yes." He took her hands in his. 

    She nodded, too, biting back her want to chuckle. "Yes, My Lord."

    "Indeed," he smiled at the amused tone of her voice. He then kissed her knuckles gently. "Hypothetically."

    Gwen chuckled and shook her head at him. "You are ridiculous," she said with such emotion that Ronyn felt his chest swell with warmth▬no, his heart. Because she said those words with something Ronyn could only describe as love. 

    He hummed. "One more kiss▬" he then tugged Guinevere close and pressed his lips against hers with a burst of passion that took her breath away. "And another," he said as he parted before kissing her once again. His arms slipped around her waist, never wanting to let her go. "And more▬" he deepened the kiss and his heart fluttered at the way Guinevere melted into his arms▬or maybe Ronyn did. He always seemed to melt just at the sight of her. 

    She pulled away this time, a delicate glint in her eyes like gemstones sparkling. However, she definitely looked breathless▬her heart racing just like Ronyn's own; her eyelids fluttered for a moment as she caught her breath. Once she did, she murmured. "You must go," Guinevere had a little smile on her face, "before someone sees you. And I must see to this room before noon."

    "I will see you tonight," Ronyn snuck one last kiss before she could react. He grinned at her and spun on his feet to head out of the chamber door, missing the way Guinevere watched him go with an adoring smile. 

    Ronyn tried to hide the slight skip in his step as he made his way back out into the corridor, and the smile on his face. He fixed his doublet, his morning turning into something delightful. He ruffled his hair as he turned the corner, prepared to make his way to Arthur's chambers for morning tea. 

    He slowed down, however, with a breath of surprise to see his mother, Lady Elayne Vecentia walking the corridors opposite him. She was in deep conversation with another prestigious lady of similar social standing▬a woman of his mother's age, perhaps slightly older. She was plump and short, her brown hair twisted up off her head in a long braid. Wrinkles creased the corners of her eyes when she smiled while talking with Ronyn's mother, dressed in a simple, but luxurious, garb for the morning▬an appropriate dress for walking the castle corridors. Beside her was a young lady who must be her daughter, and it was quite hilarious to see how tall this woman's daughter was in comparison. She had a slender frame, with a long neck and pointed features, and while brown hair such as her mother's might have made her quite haughty, the lady's daughter was blessed with bright, thick, flaming curls▬brilliant curls. She tried to keep them off her face, but even with some strands twisted away, the rest of her hair burst out like a starved flame would once it finally met the air. A sunburst of bright orange and reds, like the old Scottish kings and heroes. She wore a nice dark green dress which matched her eyes and went perfectly well with her hair▬and it turned her quite beautiful, and Ronyn could not ignore that fact, because then he would be impolite and blatantly blind. 

    "Mother," Ronyn greeted as he walked towards the three of them, a little surprised, but putting on his 'I promise, I will be polite' smile. "I did not know you were taking a nice walk this morning. If so, I would have joined you."

    His mother's brows settled with a look that easily saw through her eldest child's pretence▬no child could ever hide his intentions from their mother; especially a mother who raised both of her children without a wetnurse and saw them through every milestone, unlike most ladies of money. The Lady Elayne knew her children back to front and cared for them deeply (and sternly, but that stern nature stemmed from a fierce desire to protect them▬which neither child could blame their mother for; they remember very well what their father had been like). "Ronyn, dearest," she replied and reached a hand out for her son's arm. He let himself be gently pulled to her side. "You must know Lady Enide Kenwyn and her daughter, Miss Isobel? Their father is Lord Randel▬"

    "Ah," Ronyn let out, feigning interest. He glanced at the two of them, trying to put names and kingdoms together▬and who lived in those kingdoms; it was a tedious game. "Lord Randel. Cornwall?" At their nods, his interest did pique. "You are a long way from home, then? What brings you to Camelot? Is Lord Randel not with you?"

    His mother had that look on her face that told Ronyn he asked the wrong thing. He mouthed a 'what'? To which she sighed softly and shook her head. 

    "There is growing tension at the border," explained Lady Enide politely. "But I really do not wish to stress myself with such matters▬"

    "Saxons," her daughter cut her off, sounding rather annoyed. Lady Enide frowned at her, chiding but Miss Isobel subtly rolled her eyes. Ronyn blinked, taken aback▬he was surprised she was not as well-mannered as other girls he knew; it was not an insult. "There is a growing population of Saxon invaders in Wessex. My father had us travel to Camelot until the skirmishes at the border die down."

    "You must have travelled through Mercia?" murmured Ronyn, meeting Isobel's gaze. He was a tall man, and she was only just a few inches shorter. "Sounds like it was a dangerous journey."

    "We are here now," Lady Enide cut in, giving her daughter a short look to which she set her jaw and looked away, annoyed. "Which is all that matters, I say. And my husband will surely push back the invaders with the rest and we will return home soon."

    Ronyn wished to ask more▬even if it might be impolite. The growing Saxon invasion was something that brewed on everyone's minds, and since Ronyn had heard his fair share in council meetings and from the King himself, he was eager to learn more. But before he could ask, his mother nudged his side with her elbow. It wasn't painful, but sharp enough to make him lose his thought for a moment and stifle his grunt of displeasure. 

     "Ronyn," she said with a tone of voice that he knew he couldn't refuse. Even if he might be the Lord of the house now, there was still one person Ronyn always answered to outside of the sovereign▬and that was his mother. "Perhaps you could take a walk with Lady Enide's daughter? Show Miss Isobel the castle and the gardens▬I am sure you two would get along very well."

    And there it was. 

    At least the young Miss Isobel didn't look too pleased, either.

    Ronyn forced a pleasant smile on his face but imagined slamming his head against the wall▬maybe if he pretended he had some estranged sudden illness, he'd get out of it. But he was sure his mother would see through that, too.

    He just had to push through. He had to wait. 

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    WHEN ADELYNN decided she would start to be mentored under Gaius and help him out now that she was starting to slowly step out into society, she thought she'd be learning about plants, herbs and medicine. The last thing she expected to do was follow him around the Camelot markets looking for pots. It was a bright and sunny day, which was welcome as the days got closer to winter. The streets between the Lower Town and the Upper Town were bustling with people from all social standings within the city. The markets brought everyone together and onto common ground. There were commoners marvelling at jewellery they could never buy. Prestigious Lords laughed and held their bellies as they reminisced about times long ago, tasing the fresh produce from a farmer's stall. Maids huddled together as they looked at fabrics for dresses and mothers raced after excited children. A breath of happiness under the guard of the fierce Camelot walls▬fortress walls that were built upon years and years of sacrifice and discipline; a safe haven from all of the terrible things happening outside the iron gates, blanketed under the shadow of the towering turrets of the castle behind them. 

    And yet, despite gathering pots of different sizes, Adelynn found some part of herself enjoying the simplicity of it▬enjoying being outside the cages of her room, with only her window as a glimpse of the life outside it. 

    She watched Merlin struggle with the load of pots he carried from string over his shoulders, hanging from his elbows and clutched in his arms. His chin barely could lift over the brim of the next pot Gaius set on top of the growing pile. Adelynn had offered to lighten the load, but God forbid anyone seeing a servant make the sister of Lord Vecentia carry anything when he was around. She would not put it past Merlin to dump the entire pile on her if she was not who she was, of course. She has seen him do it to Odette and watched her struggle under the pile of whatever it might be with no remorse. 

    While Adelynn quite enjoyed looking into botany and its medicinal purposes she has read from her book, both she and Merlin understood a deeper reasoning behind her taking up this offer both her mother and Gaius discussed. With Adelynn spending more of her time in the physician's rooms, it allowed for slim chances that she could learn and practice magic under Merlin's guidance. She would read from his sorcerer's book, and marvel at all of the things she did not know about magic▬and the possibilities of what she could do if she learnt the right spell or enchantment. Just the other day, she managed to make the ink drawing of a dove lift off the page and fly around as if it were real. That was not a spell belonging to a monster▬there was nothing but kindness and purity in that little ink dove that flew around her shoulders and made her giggle when its feathers tickled her cheeks. 

     Of course, Gaius did not know about her magic. She would presume he was aware of Merlin's magic if he was so freely able to have books on sorcery, but she was hesitant to mention it▬and so was Merlin. They were hesitant to mention that Adelynn knew of Merlin's magic, too. For now, it was a secret, but Adelynn was worried about how long they could keep it that way. 

    Gaius glanced back at Merlin struggling with his load of pots, his physician's bag at his side. "Keep up, Merlin," he said before continuing to walk through the markets. "We have got a busy day ahead."

    Merlin huffed a breath of frustration as he dragged himself to catch up. Adelynn bit back some amusement. "It is a busy day every day," he said grumpily. "You and Arthur, you work me to the bone!"

    "Do you always moan like this?" Adelynn spoke up, arching a brow at Merlin with the pure intent to cause a rise out of him. "It must be very interesting to help out a physician. I have found it incredibly interesting recently, myself."

    Merlin stared at her blankly. "My Lady," he said in a very sarcastic tone▬he had little care for manners or titles, "we are collecting pots. We do the same thing each and every Thursday. At exactly the same time. You will be moaning your complaints soon enough!"

    "Merlin," Gaius chided his tone in the presence of Adelynn, but the young Vecentia bit back her want to chuckle▬she shared an amused look with Merlin at his response, and he rolled his eyes when he realised he had done exactly what she wanted him to do. 

    Adelynn fell into step beside Merlin, fixing her girdle with a little smile. Yes, she has enjoyed this very much so far. Whether it be pounding herbs or collecting pots in the markets. Adelynn felt as though she had more of a purpose to her life other than one day getting married and having children. She felt like she was important to something other than what her future husband thought of her. She enjoyed being around Merlin▬nurturing their growing friendship and sharing their experiences; an understanding Adelynn shared with no one else. She felt comfortable with Merlin, because it was as if her mind and her body could feel the magic inside him, and it almost felt like a missing piece to hers. They were connected, she knew this much; just like the petals were connected to the flower stem. Or even how the sun paralleled the moon. 

    If magic is connected to the roots of the earth, just as the ghost in her mirror, Tayrn told her, then perhaps magic is connected between beings who possessed it, too. 

    She glanced up at the sun again, hearing Taryn's words of omens and vague happenings. If the bright sun was an omen for today, then Adelynn supposed today would be one of the good ones. Some part of her could understand Odette's love for the sun's warmth and light▬and see why it made her so happy and so hopeful in nature. 

    "I will have you know, My Lady," went on Merlin, ignoring Gaius's chiding tone, "is that nothing interesting ever happens on a Thursday. Nothing what so ever▬"

    His words were cut off when all of a sudden, a hand reached out and grasped his arm with staggering strength. Merlin stumbled and frowned, estranged at the gnarly, bony fingers that gripped onto his arm as if they were made of iron. The figure they belonged to was hunched over in a moth-eaten, woollen cloak and tunic; they looked more like rags than clothes. 

    The man had pasty skin and thin, balding hair. He looked as though he had been through hell▬or ran with the rats in the slums. There was something about him that put Adelynn on edge; his eyes were small, his nose and ears large, and the words that he spoke to Merlin were raspy and in a low murmur▬he reminded her of a lizard, and that made her even more uneasy. 

    "Please," he rasped, "we seek Uther Pendragon. Where can he be found?"

    Merlin was too stunned. He stammered, hunching up and looking almost repelled. "I▬uh▬"

    "We have urgent business with the King," said the stranger in his breathy whisper. He placed something in Merlin's hand▬it looked like a seal of some kind.

    Gaius quickly stepped in, noticing how uncomfortable Merlin looked. "I am sorry▬" he reached over and took the seal himself, "▬but any business you have with the King will have to be pursued through the usual channels."

    When he turned the object over and noticed the seal, however, his eyes widened. Something grave crossed his features, and suddenly, it was as though Gaius had aged a few years. Adelynn stepped closer, her curiosity getting the best of her as she peered down at the seal. She frowned, startled, to see a ship encased in runes▬this was a royal seal. 

    "But this is the seal of the House of Tragor," murmured Gaius, frowning at the stranger with startled confusion▬as if the very idea of seeing this seal was shocking. And it was. Adelynn heard her brother mention it once when he thought she wasn't listening▬the House of Tragor had fallen. "Where did you get this?"

    "It does not belong to me," said the stranger, and his words were slow and simple▬Adelynn hated his eyes; they were unblinking. 

    He turned and stepped to the side, and it allowed another figure to come closer▬one Adelynn had not noticed before. Her eyes widened slightly when the cloaked figure took down her hood, and there it revealed the face of a beautiful woman. Her cloak itself was made of silk and satin; a deep, enriching green over a pure white tunic. Her skin was delicate, her long brown hair twisted away from her features and flowing down her back. She had soft features, and yet they were pointed at the same time▬like how a rose's petals were gentle and beautiful but also hid thorns in their shadows. 

    "It belongs to me," she said, and even her voice was soft and delicate▬but regal; she was regal. Adelynn didn't need to be told anything to know who she was. She was a royal▬the princess of the House Tragor. Perhaps the late King's eldest daughter. It stunned Adelynn because, like many others, she believed all of the members of the royal family of Tragor were dead. 

    As Adelynn curtsied, her mind was consumed with troubling thoughts. Something wasn't quite right. 

    Lady Catrina and her servant, Jonas, were escorted to the throne room in order to greet the King and his court. As soon as Uther Pendragon was notified, it was as though bells tolled through the corridors of the castle▬bells of shock and surprise. The Court was in a rush to gather, and Odette had barely any time to find a dress for Morgana to change into before they needed to leave or would be late. 

    The young second handmaiden of the King's Ward shuffled awkwardly beside her mistress, who sat in her chair on the left side of her guardian, gorgeous in her forest green dress. As the other members of the Court gathered▬Ronyn included, subtly fiddling with the strings of his dark green doublet▬no one noticed the way Odette glanced shyly towards the chair right of the throne. 

    Her amber gaze settled on the light blonde hair of the Prince, feeling a painful tug to her chest and a lump in her throat▬and she was still yet to decide whether it was guilt, frustration, or despair over what had happened. Odette watched Arthur Pendragon when no one could see▬and for a girl so very lost within the shadows, now more than ever, it was easy to be forgotten by anyone who might notice. 

    When she forced herself to look away, it was as if something tugged the gaze of the Prince to glance over. He found her in the shadows, always▬like the sunlight streaking across the stone floor, it lit up the sight of Odette as if she were a flower blooming the moment the sun touched her petals. But this time, she did not. She frowned down at her shoes. Arthur set his jaw and looked towards the door, taking a sharp breath through his nose to keep himself level and calm. 

    Guinevere, who stood with Odette, was curious at the way her friend swallowed harshly. Ever since the young handmaiden had given herself up for capture by Hengist, there was a dimmer light from the sun casting down onto her▬her cheeks seemed a little paler than they had once been before; her smile a little less bright. Something weighed Odette down, whether it be her thoughts, Lancelot, or her fear of the dark returning and making it hard for her to fall asleep, or something else▬whatever it might be, even everything all at once, there was a shadow that followed Odette wherever she went, now. 

    When the door opened, everyone's gazes and attention snapped over to the woman who stepped inside the throne room, her servant scurrying in after her. 

    The King immediately stood on his feet, a breathless look about him▬one that Odette had not seen before. She blinked, surprised at his shock and desperation; he could not believe the sight of the beautiful woman standing in his throne room, as if he was seeing a ghost. "Lady Catrina, is it really you?"

    "I can hardly believe it myself," said Lady Catrina. Her voice was like someone was playing the flute▬breathy and yet beautiful and light in tone. Arthur stood up as well, crossing his arms in the way he always does, his long leather coat reaching to his ankles. 

    Even despite the horrors she must have gone through, Lady Catrina managed a curtsy filled with grace. Odette glanced over and tried to catch the gaze of Merlin, wanting to share some sort of exchange with her close friend, only to raise a brow to see his eyes fixed on Lady Catrina with a look Odette could only describe as besotted. 

    As she stood up, her posture poised and wonderful, the King shook his head with a face soft with sympathy▬Odette had never seen him look so soft; she did not even know he could look so soft. "We heard tidings from the north that the House of Tragor had fallen to invaders."

    Lady Catrina seemed to tremble for a moment as if she had suddenly become ill. "All that you heard was true, My Lord," she lamented, "and worse."

    "Your father, the King▬?"

    "Gone, Sire," she seemed exhausted, her words slipping to a whisper. "The enemy attacked without warning. We were outnumbered five to one. He could not endure." Lady Catrina grasped her hands together, her words breaking for a moment, but she took a courageous breath and continued: "I would never have survived had it not been for my faithful servant, Jonas▬" she glanced at the dirty-looking man in rags behind her. Odette could tell the King was hiding his disgust and gave the servant an awkward nod. "But we did survive. And we have made it this far▬"

    Lady Catrina couldn't hold herself up any longer. Her knees buckled and she collapsed. Arthur sprung forward, but his father got there quicker. He caught Lady Catrina in his arms before she'd hit the ground. She let out a shaky gasp, trembling from the effort of her travels, glancing up at the King with a dreary look behind long eyelashes. 

    "Forgive me, My Lord," she said breathlessly. "I fear my trials have taken their toll..."

    Odette shared a glance with Guinevere and Morgana at the way the King did not let her go, but instead held Lady Catrina in his arms▬supporting her and refusing to let her fall. Morgana held a knowing gleam in her eye. 

    "Your sufferings are beyond imagining, My Lady," murmured Uther, pained at the sight of her exhaustion. "It would be an honour to help you in any way we can."

    "A bed for the night would be..." Lady Catrina was very weary as Uther helped her stand once more, "... most welcome."

     Uther nodded quickly. "Yes. Then consider yourselves our esteemed guests. It is the least we can do."

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    ODETTE WISHED there was a way she could turn back time. She wasn't exactly sure what she would change, but if she could, she knew she would. Perhaps she would go back to those dungeons in Hengist's castle and tell her naive self that Lancelot would make the same decision again to leave her. Maybe she wished she had never fallen for his promises again▬his soft gaze and warm smile, because then she would have been stranded all over again, left in the shadows to be forgotten. Maybe she would have changed her mind▬taken Arthur's hand instead of Lancelot's. But would that have fixed anything? Perhaps Odette wished she could travel back to that day in his chambers and never kissed him, to begin with. Her life would have been much easier if she had not let herself be pulled in by the allure of his brilliant blue eyes. But she also knew that if she had the chance to change that, deep down, she never would have▬and that is painful to live with.

    What would have been worse? Odette does not know. But she knew that she could not stand this right now. She could not stand being unable to look Arthur in the eye. She could not stand the realisation that even when she had the chance of receiving a happy ending▬or an ending that would be much better than the curse of falling for a man whom she could never be with, the world would not give it to her. And now she was left behind with the consequences of the decisions she made, and the heartbreak. But was the heartbreak Lancelot leaving her? Or the understanding that deep down, she was not over Arthur at all▬and even when she had smiled at Lancelot, in her heart, she had been thinking of someone else. 

    And now, she had lost both. 

    It was incredibly awkward for her to fill up Arthur's goblet that night as he, Morgana and the Lady Catrina dined with the King. Odette did not even look at the Prince, swallowing her racing heart and forcing her hands not to shake as she carefully poured the wine into his cup. She felt his gaze on her, and that made it worse. She was grateful when his goblet was full and she could step away, moving on to pour Morgana hers. Even still, Odette had never felt her heart race like this▬in such a painful way, that made her want to run and cry under the covers. 

    The Lady Catrina seemed in much better spirits after her collapse in the throne room. She smiled and spoke with a soft, polite airiness▬a perfect princess in the presence of a King. Even after her dreadful journey, she had dressed in a beautiful silver dinner gown with sparkling jewelled pieces in her chestnut hair. She had agreed to dine with the King and his family, even though she must be exhausted. Odette wanted to admire her for her strength and courage, but she was too busy with her thoughts. She almost ran into Merlin as he passed her with some fresh fruit to go on the table. 

    "Sorry," she mumbled under her breath so the King would not hear, not missing the concerned glance Merlin gave her. 

     As she moved to check Lady Catrina's goblet, only to notice it still full as if she had not taken a single sip, the King's esteemed guest smiled. "Well, this is wonderful," she said in a delightful tone. "Thank you."

    "It is an honour," said Uther as Odette filled up his goblet, too, before stepping back and watching on from beside Merlin. "The houses of Tragor and Pendragon have been allies for as long as anyone can remember."

    "My father often spoke of you, My Lord," Lady Catrina smiled as she picked at her dinner. She had not eaten anything off her plate, either. Odette noticed and frowned slightly, realising that perhaps she was not as okay as she made herself out to be. She felt a breath of empathy for Lady Catrina's situation. 

    Uther nodded as he brought his goblet up for a drink. "Yes," he smiled, bowing his head to Lady Catrina, "and I will remember him always."

    Arthur had been watching the two of them with a slightly narrowed glance. He pursed his lips and picked up a grape. "I am sorry I did not get the chance to meet him," he spoke up, watching Lady Catrina carefully. 

    "I am sorry, too," Lady Catrina turned to him, her cheeks pale and gaunt with grief. She sighed sadly and pushed her plate away with dainty fingers. "For the House of Tragor is no more."

    Noticing her sombre glance, and the way she gently pushed her foot away, the King quickly reached out a hand. His gloved fingers rested near her jewel-encrusted plate. "No, Catrina, it lives on in you."

    Odette noticed and glanced at Merlin briefly. He noticed the movement, too. He met her gaze, brows lifted in a subtle disbelief. 

    Arthur frowned at his father's hand, trying very hard to not let his lips curl up in disgust and displeasure. Morgana noticed and rolled her eyes, scoffing lightly under her breath at Arthur's actions. She took a gentle sip of her wine. 

     "I only wish that were true," sighed Lady Catrina meanwhile. Her dark brown eyes were fixed on the wood of the table, filled with despair. 

    "It is, My Lady," Uther reassured her, his tone showing a slither of its usual sternness, but other than that, the ruthless King of Camelot was ... well ... gentle. "Your courage, your modesty. And you are as you always were▬ever since you were a child."

    "Oh," Lady Catrina's modesty returned as she shook her head and politely hid her blush▬as any modest lady of the court should. Odette was yet to find a single flaw in Lady Catrina's mannerisms. "I fear I am much changed since then, My Lord."

    Uther paused. He pulled back his hand and reached for a pear slice in the centre of the table. "Yes, it is true," he agreed. He locked the gaze of Lady Catrina. "You are far more beautiful, now."

    Both Odette and Merlin nearly choked in their sudden attempt to hide their surprise and laughter. They turned to one another, Odette lightly smacking the Prince's manservant as she hid her smile with her other hand, looking away. The guard who was positioned nearby perfectly rigid and disciplined in his watch and protection of the royals, stammered in his stance. He coughed under his helmet and played it off as if there was a tickle in his throat. 

    Was their King ... flirting? Odette did not know Uther Pendragon had the capacity to flirt. It was almost ... startling and disturbing to see it. 

    Arthur looked as though he had just heaved up his dinner in his mouth. He cleared his throat and took an immediate gulp of his wine to hide his disgust. Meanwhile, Morgana was hiding her sweet smile, the only one who found the sight endearing.

    Lady Catrina gushed with a soft flustered breath. "Oh▬" She glanced down, bashful; a perfect response to such a compliment. She was perfect. 

    Perhaps too perfect.

    Arthur suddenly let out a long and overbearing yawn which immediately broke the soft moment between his father and the beautiful Lady Catrina. Their guest frowned across the table▬subtle, but even she could not completely hide her annoyance at Arthur's interruption. 

    The Prince gave a stiff smile in return. "My apologies," he said with no regret at all, "hard day's training. If you will excuse me?"

    Lady Catrina bowed her head. "Of course."

    Arthur stood up and nodded to his father. He then turned to the two servants softly gossiping with the guard▬to which all three of them all stood rapt to attention the moment the guard noticed Arthur standing up. "Merlin," he called to his manservant. 

    Merlin pursed his lips and glanced at Odette briefly, checking whether he would be seeing her later tonight at Gaius's chambers. She nodded and managed a little smile before he left. She didn't have much energy to keep her smile. 

     Morgana was not far behind Arthur's excuse to leave. She smiled and gently pressed her cloth to her lips before setting it down on her empty plate. "I should retire myself," she smiled graciously at Lady Catrina. 

    Uther nodded. "Morgana," he bid her goodnight. "Have your maid leave the wine on the table, Catrina and I are perfectly able to tend to ourselves."

    His ward nodded. She glanced at her maid. "Odette," she nodded at the King to reinstate his request. Odette nodded and walked over, gently setting the jug of wine in a position comfortable to both the King and his guest. She curtsied to both of them and Lady Catrina smiled kindly at her in a very motherly way▬as if to say, oh, such a sweet girl. 

    Odette was taken aback momentarily by such kindness from a woman of her status. She almost smiled back, a little bashful and not too sure how to react, before she composed herself and scurried after Morgana. Her mistress waited for her by the open door and immediately linked arms with her once they were both outside in the corridor. 

    Later in the evening, Odette had her own dinner in the Court Physician's chambers, sitting with Merlin as they ate their stew while Gaius finished the last of his potions. She immediately asked how Adelynn had been fairing in her new role and was proud of her friend to hear nothing but compliments. Adelynn Vecentia was intelligent, creative and observant▬she was not given the credit she deserved for her talents; but perhaps this will give her something that is unique outside the average lady's talent of music and art. Though, Adelynn could paint and draw far better than the average high-born lady. 

    However, their conversations about Adelynn and about their days soon dragged away into other things. Odette propped her chin on the palm of her hand as she watched Gaius shake the vial, making sure to match the pink colour of the potion to the ink depicted in his manuscript. "What is it you are making?" she asked. 

    At the very same time, Merlin also decided to start his own topic of conversation, making Odette's gaze grow flat in exasperation. "There is something really different about the Lady Catrina," he mused dreamily, pacing around the physician's chambers with a slight smile on his face.

    "Oh?" let out Odette, still miffed about being cut off. She saw right through Merlin. "Let me guess, is it her bust?"

     The warlock stopped, went bright pink and then spun to her, mimicking her words in a high-pitched tone. She mimicked him back until Gaius chided them both. Odette has found herself back in the physician's chambers more than usual these days since she returned from her intense experience at Hengist's castle. She found security and solitude▬she was not alone in a small room, with barely a candle keeping her company; cold, under moth-eaten blankets and feeling as though she was inside that dreadful cell once again, for once in her life fearing the sunrise because it would mean the promise of her death. 

    Even though she had been saved, and she had lived to tell the tale of her fearful experience▬Odette was left with an invisible scar. 

    "I was not going to say that," Merlin grumbled at Odette's comment and she just sent him a disbelieving look. "What I was going to say, Odette, is that most of Uther's guests treat me as if I am dirt in their shoes, but the Lady Catrina was really nice▬even after all she has been through."

    "Yes," murmured Gaius as he held the vial over his small flame, carefully turning it around with a pair of iron tools, "she always was very gracious."

    Merlin's curiosity was piqued. He stopped pacing. "You met her before?"

    "Oh, it was many years ago," said the physician as he poured the finished concoction into a small bottle. "I doubt if she would remember. Now, Merlin, I have a job for you."

    The sorcerer sighed and rolled his eyes, his mood immediately dampened. "Does it ever end?"

    Gaius wasn't amused. He just held out the small bottle for Merlin. "Give this to the Lady Catrina with my compliments."

    Merlin took it and turned it around in his fingers, examining the contents. "What is it?"

    "She will know what it is."

    "Yes, but what is it?"

    Gaius stared, annoyed. Merlin held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay."

     Merlin left the chambers, holding the medicine for the Lady Catrina without another word, closing the door behind him. Odette tilted her head at Gaius, a little curious and wanting an answer▬but the physician did not say a word, just returning to his manuscripts as if all was normal. 

    It didn't take Merlin long to return. When the door opened again perhaps half an hour later, the warlock stepped back inside, looking quite bewildered. The bottle filled with Gaius's potion was still in his hand. He closed the door behind him, very confused. 

    Odette looked up from her water, frowning as well to see the potion. She continued to frown as Merlin marched over and placed the bottle on the table with a miffed thud. 

    "She did not ask for it," he told Gaius, if not a little annoyed he had just made a fool of himself in front of the Lady Catrina▬but that embarrassment was soon filled with intrigue. "She did not need it. She did not even want it."

    Gaius sighed and set aside his looking glass as if this was exactly what he expected. "Interesting," he murmured. 

    Odette stood up, her own intrigue rising. She stopped beside Merlin. "Interesting? What do you mean?"

    The Court Physician sat back in his chair. "When I treated her as a child, it was for an incurable disease." Odette and Merlin shared a troubled exchange. "Catrina had a rare bone disorder affecting her joints. She often had difficulty walking, especially after a long ride. My tonic was the only thing that brought her relief."

    "But ..." Merlin was still very confused. "She walks as well as you or I."

    Gaius nodded. "So I noticed."

    Odette pursed her lips and fiddled with her fingers, her confusion slowly changing into a feeling a bit more unsettling. "So, I am guessing the tonic was some sort of test?"

    The physician hummed. "Indeed." He pushed himself to stand up. Gaius rounded the table to stand with the two servants. "And I am starting to wonder if the Lady Catrina is really the Lady Catrina at all."

    "Well, then who is she?" murmured Odette, her stomach twisting with dread. 

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    THE FOLLOWING morning, the revelation about Lady Catrina and her incurable disease stayed on Odette's mind. She frowned through the window of Morgana's chambers as she gathered clothes and sheets to wash, watching the beautiful Lady Catrina chuckle as she was helped up onto the saddle of her mare. Beside her, the King climbed up onto his royal steed with a brilliant white coat and deep red saddle and reins. Odette brushed some of her hair out of her face, peering through the ajar glass, holding the basket of washing against her hip. She watched Lady Catrina walk and mount her horse without any trouble that would suggest she had problems with her joints. It made Odette even more suspicious. 

     She tried to think of the possibilities of who this Lady Catrina could actually be. An imposter it is definite, but was she a look-alike? Perhaps any ambitious woman could pose as a princess who was killed if the man she was trying to fool had not seen her since she was a child. She could be a woman searching for money and power, and entrancing the King of Camelot gave her a key to the lavish lifestyle of one of the richest royal families of the Five Kingdoms. 

    Odette hoisted the basket up higher on her hip, resting most of her weight on one foot to give her more leverage. She watched the King and his esteemed guest trot away with a mule carrying their breakfast at the hand of a servant following. 

    She was frowning so harshly for her sweet face that she did not notice Guinevere had made her way over until she was right next to her. "What is it that has you so troubled?" she asked and Odette jumped slightly. Her frown lifted, but not entirely.

    "Er▬nothing," she quickly said, looking back out of the window. "I am just thinking."

    Guinevere glanced out of the window into the castle courtyard and pursed her lips. She watched Odette with a concerned stare briefly. "You know ..." she began carefully, eager to be there for the young handmaiden who she often saw as a younger sister, "... if you ever wish to speak about what you saw, I am here for you, Odette."

    Odette frowned for a moment, confused, until she realised what Guinevere meant. She felt a bile rise up in her throat that she quickly swallowed down. "I spent most of my imprisonment by Hengist inside his cell, Gwen," she whispered, brushing her concern off with a gentle, but curt tone. "I did not see anything except four stone walls."

    "If you have nightmares, it is normal," murmured Guinevere despite Odette's tense reply. The late blacksmith's daughter pursed her lips and looked back out of the window. "I ... I still have nightmares about seeing my father's body on that wagon ... and seeing those Knights be killed by Hengist's men."

    Odette's tense shoulders stilled and she glanced at her friend. She felt the anxious breath inside her chest release in a soft surprise after hearing Guinevere tell her such things. Her brows softened with a sad vulnerability and understanding. She looked down at the basket of washing before whispering. "I ... I sometimes still have nightmares about my mother," admitted Odette. "Seeing her fade away ... watching them take her away to bury her, only to throw her in a pit with the rest of the victims."

    Gwen nodded. She took a deep breath and rubbed Odette's arm, before taking hold of it with a gentle squeeze. For a moment, a sad realisation swept over the two handmaidens▬they were both orphans who never got to say goodbye to their parents. 

    Odette met Gwen's gaze and said. "I ... I do not wish to talk about it ... about what I saw at this moment. But ... maybe I will one day?"

    Guinevere smiled gently at her. "I will listen when that time comes," she promised. 

    Odette smiled back, but with another glance outside into the castle courtyard and noticed Lady Catrina was gone, she knew that this was her chance to snoop around. She didn't want to leave Gwen after such a heartfelt moment, but she took a deep breath anyway and said: "I should see to these sheets."

    She swept past Guinevere Smith, and her friend pursed her lips▬her concern not at all settled. The first handmaiden of Lady Morgana sighed softly and glanced out of the window again. A frown knitted at her brows the second she caught Ronyn walking into the citadel as the morning sun continued to rise▬at his side, there walked a gorgeous young lady with bright flaming curls, smiling at something he had said. Ronyn smiled back. And Gwen felt something in her twist painfully. 

    Meanwhile, Odette made her way through the castle corridors with a sense of drive in her step. She held her basket of sheets covering Morgana's dresses, taking the twists and turns, and hurrying down flights of stairs towards the room where Lady Catrina was staying. 

    As she reached the oak doors to the bed chamber, Odette glanced around the empty corridor before setting her jaw and carefully opening the door to slip inside. 

    Perhaps it was slightly reckless to sneak into the chambers of King Uther's royal guest▬but if the Lady Catrina was not all she seemed to be, Odette was prepared to be reckless. Sneaking into her chambers when she was out with the King wasn't as scary as Odette would have once considered▬she's faced scarier things since. 

    She carefully leaned her back against the door to close it, glancing around the room. It was one of the simpler suites in the castle, but still far more luxurious than Odette has experienced. There was a large table to the left draped in a beautiful, delicate crocheted cloth. A bed the size meant for a queen sat at the centre, right beneath the castle windows with rich Pendragon red curtain drapes at its four posters. The pillows looked like a dream to sleep on, and the bed covers were warm, smooth and with no moth holes. 

    They also seemed as if they had not been slept in at all. Odette frowned and made her way forward, tilting her head with curiosity. She set down the basket on the chest at the edge of the bed and went to round the side to check for creases when she was suddenly met with a wretched smell. 

    It took her off guard and she coughed, immediately raising her sleeve to cover her mouth and nose. Her eyes watered, the horrible stench was so strong. 

    At first, she thought something had died▬maybe the window had been open for too long and a bird flew inside, or even a rat was hiding in the cupboards. But when Odette crouched down to check under the bed or carefully opened the nearby dressing table cupboard▬which was empty▬she realised that it was something else. But what in this world could emit a stench so dreadful as that?

    Her gaze wandered back to the clean sheets on the bed and she pursed her lips. Taking a breath through her mouth in order to hide the stench from her nose, she crouched down and ran her fingers across the white sheets and gentle woollen bed covers▬they looked as fresh as the day they had been placed on. The only new creases made were the ones that followed Odette's fingers before she flattened them back out. No one had slept in this bed last night. 

    "Can I help you?"

     Odette gasped and stumbled back, her eyes wide as she looked up and saw the slimy, wrinkled face of Lady Catrina's servant, Jonas. She was stunned for a moment, uncomfortable and feeling the want to squirm at the chills that ran up her spine from the way Jonas looked at her. His eyes were unblinking▬the way he hunched over; he seemed more reptile than human. 

    She stammered out her words. "N▬No, I▬" she took a shaky breath, "▬Merlin is busy with Prince Arthur so he asked me to come and change the sheets." She hoped Jonas wouldn't see past her lies. 

    The servant spread out his gnarly hands, gesturing for her to continue. "Please," his voice was low and breathy▬and yet it chilled Odette to the bone, "go ahead. Do not let me get in your way."

    Odette felt her skin crawl at the way Jonas watched her. She cleared her throat and glanced back down at the sheets, awkwardly running her fingers across the sheets once again as if she were fixing the creases. Then, she put on a smile. "All done," she said and got to her feet, anxious to get out. 

    She spun on her heel and tried very hard not to seem like she was running for the door▬and she almost made it before Jonas spoke up again. "Excuse me."

    Odette closed her eyes briefly, realising she had been found out before masking her apprehension and turning around with a gentle smile. "Mmm? Yes?"

    "Aren't you forgetting something?"

    She frowned, not sure what he meant. Jonas paused, looking up at her from the shadows of his brows before spinning around. That was when Odette saw something that nearly sent her reeling. Underneath the leather coat over Jonas's rags of a tunic, swept something long, green▬and scaly. Her eyes widened and her breath hitched. Jonas had a tail!

    As he turned to face her with the basket of Morgana's sheets and clothes, Odette quickly dropped her look of surprise to seem nonchalant▬but her heart was racing and her mind was spinning; she almost felt dizzy by what she had seen. 

    She forced a chuckle from her lips, shaking her head as if to say silly me. "Oh, thank you▬!" she stepped forward and Jonas dropped the handles of the basket into her palms. Odette struggled to lift it with the sudden weight.  

    Even then, Jonas did not move his gaze. His hands slowly curled back in front of his chest, grasping together without a single blink of his eye, or even a change of his breath▬Odette realised that she was right. Somehow, Jonas was a reptile. A reptile human with a green, scaly lizard tail and it made her want to crawl away and shiver with disgust.

    She got out of there as quickly as she could without making herself seem more suspicious than she already was. 

    Once she was free of Jonas's stare, Odette took off running towards Gaius's chambers. She took the shortcuts through the servants' corridors and reached the west wing tower in less than thirty minutes. She was breathless and had a stitch at her side when she burst into the room, gasping: "Gaius! Gaius, Gaius, Gaius▬!"

    She pushed the door closed behind her and set the basket of laundry on the bench nearby. She saw Gaius hovering over his manuscripts and Merlin restocking the shelves. She nearly burst into an explanation until she noticed someone else glancing through botany books. Odette skidded to a halt, her words lost when she noticed Adelynn. She couldn't say anything with Adelynn around. 

    The young Vecentia frowned at Odette's distress, closing her book. "Odette, are you all right?"

    "Fine," she let out, trying to catch her breath and make it seem like she had not just run from one side of the castle to the other. "P▬Perfectly fine."

    Gaius understood very quickly and glanced at Ronyn's younger sister. He reached for the medicine bottle on his desk. "Adelynn, why not deliver this to your mother? And then you can tell her all that you have learnt so far."

    She frowned, taking the bottle with confusion. "But I thought...?" she glanced at all three of them▬Gaius, Odette and Merlin▬with growing confusion and even a breath of suspicion. Adelynn was an incredibly smart girl, and even if she did not know what it was they were hiding, she knew there was something going on. 

    But she did not ask. She shared one last look with Merlin before pursing her lips. "All right. I suppose I will see you later?" Adelynn walked past Odette, giving them all an estranged glance before disappearing outside. 

    As soon as the door closed, Odette rushed forward to Gaius and Merlin. "You would not believe what I just saw in Lady Catrina's chambers!" she whispered with a soft, horrified gasp. 

    Gaius and Merlin met her halfway, both looking very urgent. "What did you find?" asked the physician. 

    "Something was not right in there," Odette said very quickly, still feeling the want to gag at the smell that lingered in her nose. "At all. I▬I can hardly begin to explain it, but there▬there was this smell," she began, her face contorting in disgust. "A▬a horrible smell. I had never smelt anything so disgusting. And I swear on it, Lady Catrina's bed had not been slept in."

    "You sure the smell was not you?" Merlin still managed to quip and Odette smacked him. 

     "I am serious!" she said, her breath still shaky. "And I am not finished. There was more."

    "Oh?" Gaius watched her sit down at the table with a frown. 

    Odette nodded, swallowing the disgust in her throat. "Jonas," she said, struggling with between her words and the want to heave. "I was about to leave, a▬and I thought I saw something..." She made another face of disgust. "You ... you will think I am insane, but ... Jonas has a tail. A green, slimy, scaly, forked tail!"  

    Both Gaius and Merlin did a double-take. 

    "A tail?" exclaimed Gaius softly. "Are you sure?"

    "Yes," said the young handmaiden. "I▬I only glimpsed it for a moment but I swear, I saw it, Gaius▬"

    "No, no, no," said the physician quickly, "I believe you." He then sighed and shook his head, a grave feeling settling between the three of them. "We must keep an eye on her," murmured Gaius. "A very close eye."

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    a/n: the lady catrina slayed let us all be honest. 

    also, updates on ages of the characters. it's pretty simple at the moment, but i'll keep doing this if i remember because the timeline does get confusing because my adhd brain can't keep things consistent, and the timeline of merlin is also confusing anyway. 

     so, let's just say currently, we are in late october/early november currently :) which means ages are (i'll also add birthday months to help u guys): 

    odette: 18 - her birthday is march
    merlin: 18 - birthday is june
    adelynn: 15 - early april

    arthur: 22 - august

    ronyn: 22 - september

    gwen: 21 - late september
    morgana: 24 - late april.

    and being said this is just my sort of thing on birthdays cos we don't actually know. 

     also, trying to find a way to develop ronyn and gwen's relationship is a bit hard for me. not because i haven't throught them out thoroughly, but because it's like, what would make sense for their relationship? oh, yeah, ronyn probably getting engaged with someone of his own social status, but then that's like repeating an arc which will evidently happen between odette and arthur with the changeling episode in s3. and i also wanted ronyn and gwen to be very like ... just simple and normal, you know? i want their relationship to express maturity and mutual respect. you don't need to create outlandish plots that turn relationships toxic for the purpose of development, you can create development in other ways and aim to represent a non-toxic relationship. (exhibit a: hiccup and astrid). 

    that's what i'm trying to do with ronyn and gwen. they have communication, they have mutual respect and will listen to each other. they had a growth from what they were like in s1 to now, and right now its a steady growth where their development stems from having conversations with one another. ronyn develops his maturity, which is how their relationship progresses, and i want it to be healthy - that being said, i've like never had a long term relationship or a healthy love life, but like, i'm trying, guys.

    (limited editing)