CHAPTER THIRTEEN
LANCELOT ( iii. )

The soft melodies of violins drift in the air, mixing with the jumbled chatter of joyful conversations and laughter. A long table with deciduate fruits and deserts sits opposite of Calliope as she stands with Merlin and Gaius. The young sorcerer holds a small bowl of grapes, people sauntering to him occasionally to grab a handful of them. Calliope's eyes flicker to Arthur and Lancelot as they drink wine and share stories. A light smile tugs at her lips. She's happy for Lancelot and his accomplishment.

Occasionally, she feels Arthur's eyes on her when her gaze is elsewhere, but Calliope manages to keep her heart at a steady rhythm as she thinks about anything she can to avoid thoughts of him. The dawning reality that an entire month has gone by eats away at her mind and is a strong encouragement for her relationship with Arthur to remain distant and professional.

From beside her, Merlin grabs Gaius's attention, "Look at him, Gaius," he says in a proud and quiet voice. "Does Lancelot not deserve this moment?"

"I never said he didn't," Gaius states. "But destiny and deserve are not the same things. You played God, Merlin. You set him on a path of your choosing," Merlin's eyes flash with a hint of worry. "Tonight you have brought him triumph, but who knows what the future holds."

"Yeah, I don't know what it said on your invitation, but on mine, it said 'celebration'."

Gaius laughs, "Point taken. Don't come back too late," he turns to Calliope in a joking tone. "You're starting to rub off on him, and I don't think I can handle two smart mouths in my house."

"You know you love us, Gaius!" Calliope calls out as he walks away.

"He doesn't seem mad at you anymore," Merlin points out as he leans towards her.

She sighs, "Maybe not, but he's still disappointed. He's just a good person that values his relationship with us more than his personal feelings about the things we do."

"These duels," Calliope's gaze meets Merlin's. "They're really important to you, aren't they?"

Calliope nods, taking a breath before she speaks, "It's not all about me. It's more about changing people's ancient view of the belief that only men can fight."

"Well, I admire your determination," Merlin says as a couple comes up to him to grab some grapes. "And I'll definitely be there to watch you knock those knights on their asses."

Calliope chuckles as she pats Merlin's shoulders, "Thank you, Merlin."

As the celebrations continue, Gwen strolls away from Morgana to greet Calliope and Merlin. Her curly, black hair is pulled away from her freckled face as she stands in her servant's dress.  The blonde notices Gwen and Lancelot stealing glances at each other, and she gives Gwen a smug grin.

"I think Lancelot might have eyes for you, Gwen," Merlin says.

"Don't be silly."

"So, what if he did? Would that really be so bad?"

Gwen sighs with a small smile, "He's not really my type."

"Oh, there's a surprise. Sometimes, Guinevere, I wonder if you'd know what your type was even if he was standing right next to you."

"You're probably right."

As a servant with a tray of drinks walks by, Merlin grabs another, setting his empty cup on the tray, "Oh, thank you."

Calliope quirks an eyebrow, ignoring his first comment "Merlin, are you drunk?"

"Me? Drunk?" He shakes his head as he takes another sip. "That's ridiculous." His words slightly slur together as he looks to Calliope and Gwen. "So, come on, just for the sake of argument, if you had too, Arthur or Lancelot?"

Calliope scoffs as Gwen shakes her head, "But I don't have to, and I never will."

"You are no fun, Gwen," he takes another gulp. "What about you, Calliope?"

"I'm going to have to stick with Gwen on this one," Calliope says, her eyes falling on Arthur as he begins to stand to give a speech. "It would never happen."

The Prince grabs everyone's attention, "Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a toast to our new recruit," Arthur grabs his arm, and Lancelot joins him. "Our new Knight of Camelot, Sir Lancelot."

The room erupts in cheers and clapping as the musicians resume playing their instruments. Merlin and Gwen continue in friendly conversation, and Calliope tries to stay in the lighthearted and joyful mood of the night, but no matter what she does, Sepharin's face keeps appearing in her thoughts; his intricate tattoos and deep voice that grips her mind.

There is no escaping him; there is no escaping the life she bound herself to in blood.

Eventually, she excuses herself, walking into the hallway and away from the party. The music fades into the background as she sits on the last step of the staircase across from the closed doors. She occasionally hears roars of drunken laughter as she puts her head in her hands. Calliope feels tears threatening to gloss her eyes, but she keeps them at bay.

This is all very overwhelming. She's at a party to celebrate a friend, but on the inside, she feels a million miles away. Every time she sees Arthur; every time her body betrays her into letting her feelings arise, she is only reminded of her task to kill him.

And just as if the Prince's thoughts are connected to hers, the doors in front of her open loudly. Arthur's eyes meet hers, and she immediately puts her walls up to hide that she's upset, but she was a second too late.

"What are you doing out here?"

"I just needed a break from all the drunk people. Merlin, especially. He's such a lightweight."

He shoots a glance over his shoulder at the party before closing the doors, the jumbling noises fading, and he joins her on the stairs. His shoulder ghosts hers as he sits beside her. Such a small sensation shouldn't cause goosebumps to prickle her skin. 

His head turns, glancing over her stone-cold expression that she tries so hard to hold onto in the midst of times like this. When she feels like caving.

 "So, why are you really out here?" 

A pause drifts between them. Contemplation plays out on the assassin's face as she twiddles her thumbs.

"My birthday is in three days," A fact she had almost forgotten until Gaius reminded her a few days ago. She hates birthdays. They're only a reminder of the people that can no longer celebrate them with her, and that combined with everything going on with Sepharin is causing her to have a very rough time lately.

 Calliope looks down at her hands. It's easier than looking the Prince in the eyes as she lets the honest words flow, feeling the tug of restraint, but she ignores that small voice in her mind.

"My father used to always travel to Camelot right before my birthday to get the ingredients for an orange cake," she lets out a small laugh as memories flood her brain, "No one in my village grew oranges and everyone was poor, so we only got things like sweets on special occasions," Arthur's eyes stay locked with her intently. "He always came back on my birthday with two baskets of fresh oranges. My mother would use one for the cake, and she saved the other for me to eat through the week. She'd cut them up and put sugar on them. At the time, I thought sugar-covered oranges were the greatest things in the world."

Arthur laughs softly, "Your parents sound like they were wonderful people."

"They were," Calliope says, her heart clenching as she thinks of the nine birthdays she got to spend with them. "You know, I haven't had an orange cake since I was nine," she shakes her head, wondering how a simple look from him has her revealing things she hasn't spoken of to anyone else. "It feels like a million years ago."

A flicker of understanding covers Arthur's face, "Every year on my mother's birthday, I have the kitchen make a lemon pie. It was her favorite, or at least, that's what I heard," Calliope's eyes meet his. "She died after she gave birth to me, so I never knew her."

"I'm sorry," Calliope says softy—sincerely, emotion flickering through the Prince's eyes. "Is that why your father seems so angry all the time?"

"Yeah, even if I ask about her, he says it's too painful to talk about."

She considers telling him she doesn't even know who her birth parents are; that Gaius found her as a baby and gave her to a couple that couldn't have children.

A bark of obnoxious laughter lifts in the air, snapping them away from the tender moment, and Calliope motions to the door, "You should probably get back to the party. I'm sure everyone is missing their Prince."

"Nah, they're all probably so drunk they won't even notice," his eyes dance with hers. Those damn feeling arise in her chest again; a light sensation that flutters her heart. Those sensations she despises—that she fights and tries to deny as if they could blink out of existence— they pierce and warm her heart at the same time, and it's the most confusing fucking thing she has ever experienced. "Calliope," he says, never breaking eye contact. She couldn't look away even if she wanted to. "I just want you to know that I will be there to support you at the duels. I was a fool for doubting you, especially since you saved my life, and I'm sorry."

The genuine look in his ocean-colored eyes shocks Calliope as his shoulder brushes hers, causing a bolt of sparks to shudder through her entire body. She isn't sure how to handle these foreign feelings as his gaze burns into her own.

But, the sound of the door being thrown open snaps both of them away from each other as Arthur stands up. A few people stumble out, laughing amongst themselves as they walk out of the corridor.

Calliope clears her throat as she rises to her feet, "It's getting late. I should go."

Arthur nods, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yeah," she inhales a sharp breath. "Goodnight, Arthur."

His eyes meet hers one last time as if he wants to ask her to stay, but instead, he replies, "Goodnight, Calliope."

♛ ♛ ♛

The next morning, Calliope is completely fine.

Merlin and Lancelot however, stumble out of their rooms, their eyes with heavy bags and their hair tousled and wild. Their eyes squint, sensitive to the light pouring in from the windows. As Calliope eats her breakfast with Gaius, she holds in laughter at their hungover state. 

She can tell neither one of them get drunk very often, and they clearly were unaware of the consequences last night when they kept asking for their glasses to be refilled with wine and ale.

Luckily, Gaius knew the boys would wake up feeling like shit, so he had already prepared a concoction that will cure their symptoms enough to help them get through the day.

"Two yards of ale? Two miles more like," Lancelot says to Merlin as Gaius grabs the two cups filled with suspicious liquid.

"Good morning, gentlemen," Gaius says as he holds up the cups.

"Aw, can you little girls not handle your alcohol?"

"Shut up, Cal," Merlin says in a grumpy tone.

Gaius walks to them with the cups, "Don't look at it. Don't smell it. Just down it in one."

They each grab a cup, glancing at one another before gulping the horrible liquid in one swig. Their faces scrunch in disgust as they groan at the terrible taste.

"Better?" Gaius asks. "Good. Can't have you nodding off first day on the job, Lancelot."

"That's Sir Lancelot if you don't mind," Merlin corrects with a grin.

The four of them laugh, but their morning is interrupted when two guards barge into the room with their eyes trained on Lancelot as they grip their spears. Fear shoots through Calliope as they march up to him.

"What are you doing?" Merlin asks in a panic.

"King's orders," One says as they grab Lancelot and begin to drag him out of the room.

"Stop!" Merlin yells.

Calliope strides after them, about to start throwing punches, "Hey! Let him go!"

But, Gaius is there to hold her back, "You can't stop this, Calliope. Let them go."

"The King knows, doesn't he?" Merlin asks, putting his hands on his head inf frustration. "This is all my fault."

Merlin and Calliope meet eyes, both of them filled with intense worry for their friend. All they can do now is wait to see what Uther decides, and knowing the King, he won't have any mercy.

When news spreads that Lancelot was thrown in the dungeons, Calliope begins thinking of a plan to help him escape. She ponders the design of the castle and the different ways out, but she knows Lancelot is a man of honor and likely wouldn't agree to such a plan. She considers talking to Arthur, but she knows this decision isn't up to him. It's his father she would have to sway, and that is definitely impossible.

Instead of spending the entire night trying to figure out solutions, she tags along with Merlin as he heads to the dungeons to visit Lancelot. He needs encouragement right now, and Merlin feels extremely guilty for the entire situation. Nothing Calliope says to him seems to help his conscience.

As they descend the staircase illuminated by orange torchlight, the guards on duty eye them with suspicion until they stop in front of Lancelot's cell, where he sits on the dry hay, his eyes laced with defeat.

Merlin shakes his head in regret, "I don't know what to say to you, Lancelot."

"You're not to blame."

"Yes, I am. I pushed you. I made you lie."

Calliope sighs, "We both encouraged him to do this, Merlin. It's not your fault."

"The choice was mine," Lancelot says. "My punishment is mine to bear, and mine to bear alone."

"I wish there was something I could do," Merlin answers, sadness in his gaze.

"There is. You can stop blaming yourself."

Merlin offers him a small nod, and even though Lancelot's words prove the situation is no one's fault alone, he still bears his guilt on his shoulders.

And sometimes, guilt never fades. It festers until a person feels like they have the weight of the world tied onto their backs as heavy luggage they have to carry with them everywhere they go.

Calliope has a lot of luggage on her back, and she's starting to see that Merlin does too.

When the two of them return to their chambers, they spot several books laying open on the table. Gaius stands over one with a magnifying glass, reading every word intently. Merlin sighs as his shoulders hunch in defeat.

"Whatever you do, don't say 'I told you so."

"I have no wish to gloat, Merlin. What's done is done," Gaius's eyes return to his book. "Here. Come and take a look at this." As Calliope and Merlin join him above the book, he places his hand on the picture opposite of a long column of tiny words. "I've realized my mistake. I've been looking for the creature in the wrong place --in the records for all known living things in the Kingdom-- and then I thought, 'but what about creatures only recorded in legend and myth?' and I discovered this."

His hands move away from the picture, "That's it. That's the monster," Merlin says as he examined the picture of the monster that looks like an eagle with a lion's body.

Tower bells clang together outside, pulling their attention away from the book. Calliope immediately runs to the window, spotting the creature flying towards a panicked crowd running in all directions to find shelter.

Calliope clenches her jaw as she turns, about to head to her room to grab her sword, but Gaius's hand on her arm stops her.

"Calliope, no. You don't even know how to kill it."

"I'm sure cutting its head off will work."

Gaius shakes his head, "No, this creature is a Griffin, formed by magic, which means only magic call kill it."

Calliope watches as the beast flies at the knights, "Well, then I guess this one is up to Merlin."

♛ ♛ ♛

The Griffin's attack did not take another life, but the knights failed to kill it. Their spears and swords were useless against the magical being. Even when Gaius met with King Uther, explaining his opinion of the creature, the King saw no reason, stating ignorantly that they don't need magic to kill the beast. Uther's pride and closed mind will be the death of so many.

As Gaius and Merlin return to the chambers, Calliope knows Merlin is the only one in the entire kingdom with the power to kill this beast, and time is ticking as Arthur and the knights prepare to ride into the forest to face the Griffin in one final fight.

Gaius turns to Merlin, speaking in a serious tone, "If Arthur rides out against the Griffin, he's going to die."

"Then he must be stopped," Merlin says. "Uther must see reason."

Calliope laughs, "When it comes to magic, that man is blind to reason."

"And yet magic is our only hope," Calliope follows the path of Gaius's eyes to Merlin.

Merlin glances between them with shock, "You're not suggesting..."

"It is your destiny Merlin; the true purpose of your magic."

Merlin shakes his head, "You two did see that thing, didn't you? I can't go up against it!"

Calliope exhales a sharp breath, "But if you don't, Arthur's going to die."

"No, this madness," he shakes his finger at both of them. "I don't have magic that powerful. There must be another way."

"This is the only way."

Merlin puts his hands on his hips, his eyes flaring as his voice rises, "Do you even care what happens to me? Oh, just do this, Merlin. Do that, Merlin. Go and kill the Griffin, Merlin. I'll just sit here and warm my feet by the fire."

"Merlin!" Gaius says, matching his tone at first, but then his features soften as he takes a step closer to the young warlock. "Merlin," his eyes dart between Merlin and Calliope. "You and Cal are the only things I care about in all this world. I would give my life for both of you without a thought, but for what?" Merlin begins to calm down as he realizes how much he overreacted. "I cannot save Arthur. It is not my destiny," Merlin takes a deep breath. "You know."

Merlin hands his head for a moment, ashamed of the way he spoke, "I'm sorry."

"I don't know what else to say."

Merlin perks up, a newfound determination in his gaze, "I'll say it for you. We have two hours to find a way to kill that thing."

Calliope reaches over to the bookshelf, grabbing one about mythical creatures, "Well, I guess you should get to reading, wizard boy."

And read they do. The three of them read and read and read through every spellbook they can find. The jumbled mess of the language of spells causes a headache to arise in her skull, but the drive to save Arthur takes over as she keeps skimming through every word.

An hour ticks by before anyone of them realize it. Calliope rubs her temples with frustration, but Gaius lets out a victorious laugh as he lands on the right page of a thick and worn spellbook.

"There," Merlin stands up to glance over the spell Gaius motions to. "You have to do this for Arthur."

Merlin's eyes are glued to the spell, "I've never cast a spell of enchantment this powerful."

"Nothing else will kill it," Gaius reaches beside him, grabbing a long dagger to hand to Merlin. "Here. Try it. You have it within you. I know you do."

Merlin takes the dagger, gripping it tightly with his right hand as he holds it out in front of him. Gaius and Calliope watch the dagger closely as Merlin hones in all his focus. He breathes deeply before releasing the words of the spell.

"Bregdan anweald gafeluec."

The three of them stare at the dagger for a few quiet moments, expecting it to glow or glisten with magic, but instead, it does absolutely nothing. Did it even work?

"Don't worry, Merlin," Gaius says. "We have plenty of time."

For almost the entire remaining hour, Calliope listens to Merlin repeat the same spell over and over and over. It begins to be the only words she can think as she sits at the table with Gaius, worried that Merlin wasn't going to do this in time.

He sighs with intense aggravation as he turns around, raising his voice and repeating the spell again, but still nothing happens.

"Don't worry, Merlin. We know you're trying."

"And I'm failing, and if Arthur dies because I'm not good enough-"

Gaius stops him, "Merlin!"

The door of Gaius's chambers is suddenly flung open. It bangs against the wall loudly as Gwen runs in with worry on her face.

"Merlin, Lancelot's riding out to kill the Griffin!"

"He's what?" Calliope and Merlin ask at the same time as they stand up.

Merlin runs out of the chambers first, but Calliope hurries to her room to grab her sword, "Calliope, what are you doing?" Gaius asks as she emerges.

"Merlin can deal with Lancelot, but it's been two hours. Someone has to look out for Arthur before he gets there."

"Cal, no," Gaius insists. "The Griffin can only be killed by magic. There's nothing you can do."

Calliope grips her sword as she holds it out, "I'm sure I'll think of something."

♛ ♛ ♛

Riding through the busy forest after nightfall isn't foreign to Calliope. The chirping of insects from the towering pines is a melody to her ears. She moves better in the night; in the cloak of darkness that hides her face. She listens closely as she follows the path of horse hooves, but there's no screaming yet, which means the knights haven't found the Griffin.

Her body shivers in an attempt to create warmth in her bones as the chilling wind rips at her skin. Calliope pulls her cloak tighter against her body as she lets out a few deep breathes, the air from her lungs fanning out in front of her like tiny clouds.

An echo of leaves crunching snaps to her ears. She pulls her horse's reins, urging him to stop. Calliope's eyes scan the forest as a twig breaking from behind her brings her into full alert. Calliope dismounts her horse, tying the reins to a nearby branch. She pulls her sword out of its sheath as she moves away from the center of the clearing. She lets her senses guide her as the crunching of leaves continues to fill the night air.

Then, the entire forest goes silent around her in a sudden expanse of eerie nothingness. The crunching of leaves has stopped, and Calliope turns in every direction, feeling that someone is watching her from the dense shadows. When a voice emerges from the silence, she grips the handle of her blade even tighter.

"I must say, I'm impressed," Calliope quickly turns around, her eyes narrowing at Sepharin as he walks closer to her with his usual smug expression. "You've really fooled everyone around you. Tell me, do they all think that you're actually their friend?"

"What are you doing here?" She asks bluntly.

Sepharin crosses his hands over his chest, "It's been a month. I'm checking in on your progress, and I see the Prince is still very much alive."

"I told you I needed time. I still have two months."

He nods, taking another step, "Yes, but I've been in Camelot for a few days now watching you and your 'friends'... Watching you with the Prince," Calliope's heart clenches. "I don't think you have any intention of killing him. In fact, I think you might even care for him."

"You're wrong," Calliope states with conviction. "What can I say? I'm having fun toying with him."

Sepharin stops only a few feet away from her, "I remember the time when you really would do whatever it took to get what you wanted, and oh, you were magnificent. Killing with such brutality that even I had never seen before," he looks over her. "I don't see that in you anymore. I think this Prince Arthur has made you soft."

"He means nothing to me," Calliope takes a threatening step, raising the tip of her blade to his neck, "I'm going to kill the Prince," she says lowly, meeting his gaze. "And then, one day—maybe a year from now, or maybe ten years from now— I'm going to kill you. That, I promise."

She slowly lowers her blade, "Well, that's disappointing to hear," Sepharin sighs, "Because I was told that when your time is up, if you haven't killed Prince Arthur, then I get to kill him." Calliope clenches her jaw. "I was looking forward to spilling his royal blood all over the streets of Camelot." Sepharin begins to back away. "But, alas, once again you get to have all the fun."

Sounds of screams fly through the air along with screeches from the Griffin. Calliope turns towards the commotion as Sepharin's face lifts in a sly smile.

"Or who knows, maybe this Griffin will have all the fun for us."

Calliope turns back to Sepharin, "There's a special fiery place for you in the pits of hell, Sepharin."

He nods, "I guess I'll see you there, Red Dragon."

With that, Sepharin leaves Calliope alone in the clearing, but she doesn't have time to process everything that just happened. Instead, she runs towards the sounds of the Griffin, sword in hand.

When Calliope makes it to the scene, all the knights, including Arthur are lying on the ground unmoving. Fear shoots through her mind as she runs up to Arthur, kneeling beside him, her hand moving to his neck. She lets out a loud breath of relief when she finds a pulse.

"Cal!" Calliope sees Merlin running up to her.

"He's alive," she says as Merlin reaches the Prince.

The Griffin appears again, stomping from the shadows and letting out a roaring hiss as its eyes scan over Merlin and Calliope like prey.

But Lancelot rides in on horseback, his full armor covering his body and his long lance in his right hand. Merlin and Calliope stand up, watching as Lancelot prepares to charge at the beast. Calliope looks to Merlin with a nod, silently telling him that it's now or never.

Lancelot's horse begins sprinting towards the Griffin, and Merlin raises his hand out as he recites the spell, "Bregdan anweald gafeluec," Nothing happens to the lance as Lancelot comes closer to the angry monster. "Bregdan anweald gafeluec!" Merlin says again more forceful and confident.

And then, right as Lancelot prepares to shove the sharp tip of his lance into the beast, his lance begins glowing an iridescent blue that lights up the entire clearing. Merlin and Calliope look at each other with excited laughs of victory as Lancelot slays the beast, and it tumbles to the forest floor.

As Arthur begins to wake up, Merlin and Calliope turn to run the other way, leaving the Prince with only Lancelot to thank for this miraculous salvation.

♛ ♛ ♛

Even after learning of Lancelot's bravery, the King was not persuaded to return his knighthood. Traditions are too important to him, which is foolish, and Calliope has realized that Uther's stubbornness may actually have her own beaten.

Lancelot decides to leave Camelot to start again with a promise that he will be back one day, but Calliope knows that promises like that in this world are hardly ever kept. She knows his decision hurts Gwen, but they'll find a way to be together someday, Calliope knows it.

"Well, Lancelot," Calliope says as he sits on his horse. "I think I actually may miss you."

He chuckles, "I'll miss you too, Cal, but we will meet again. I know it." He grabs his horse's reins. "I wish you luck in your duels. I may not have been able to change Uther's mind about things, but I have hope you will."

"Thank you," she replies. "Be careful, and come back someday, will you?"

"Of course," Lancelot gives the blonde one last look. "Goodbye, Cal."

And then, he kicks the sides of his horse. Lancelot rides away from the city of Camelot, and Calliope's eyes linger on him until he is completely out of sight. She would have liked for him to stick around— that's one more person to help her pester Merlin, but she understands why he must leave, and in her heart, she knows she will see Lancelot again.

As she stands in the courtyard, she can't fight off the events from hours earlier; seeing Sepharin again and hearing his threats. Having to put on her cruel mask and tell him lies that should be the truth. Prince Arthur should mean nothing to her. But now...now that Sepharin has been tasked with finishing the job if she can't, she isn't sure how to proceed. He wouldn't give Arthur a quick death, and then, he'd go after everyone else even associated with the assassin. 

Her disturbing conversation with Sepharin is threatening to take hold of her mind. Calliope realizes her only option now is to find a way to kill him, and she only has two months to do it. Two months before he comes into the city, ready to spill blood all over the streets; the blood of everyone Calliope cares for. But how do you kill someone that cannot die?

Either she finds a way, or she'll have to kill Arthur to save everyone else.

"Calliope."

She turns her head, spotting Prince Arthur approaching her. She's surprised he's even awake this early in the morning. The sun has barely risen in the sky, and he had an extremely late night. Calliope hasn't slept at all.

"What is it?"

He motions for her to follow him, "Come with me."

"Why?"

"Just, come on. You'll see."

With a reluctant sigh, Calliope follows after the Prince as they go into the castle, "What's this about?"

He doesn't answer. He just keeps leading her up staircases until they are standing outside the doors of a room Calliope has never been into before because it's usually just a large and completely empty space only used for storage when a lot of guests come to the palace at once.

Arthur puts his hands on the doorknobs with a clever grin, and then he pushes them open.

"Happy birthday."

Calliope's heart stops in disbelief when she sees a long table in the center of the room with breakfast food and drinks, and people surrounding it —Merlin and Gaius and Gwen and Morgana—they all offer her smiles as they shout.

"Happy birthday, Cal!"

Calliope doesn't know what to say. No one has ever done something like this since her parents died. She turns to Arthur, still in shock and speechless and overwhelmed with a hurricane emotions that tears almost come to her eyes as she looks at him. The past twenty-four hours have been a whirlwind; her heart has been pulled in so many different directions.

"You did all this?"

He shrugs, "Well, Merlin did the work, of course, but it was my idea." She still can't believe Arthur had this idea at all. Is she dreaming? "Oh, and that's not all." He reaches behind him to a small table by the door where a wooden box with a lid sits. He hands it to her. "I, uh, had Hilda make this for you."

Calliope gives him a confused look as she takes the lid off the box. Her hands falter, and she drops the lid when she sees what's inside, "An orange cake?" Yes, it's an orange cake with a side plate of sugar-covered oranges.

"Well, you said you haven't had one since you were nine so—"

Calliope sets the box on the table, cutting him off by enveloping him in a hug. Arthur freezes, unsure at first, but then his arms wrap around her. He's warm, and he smells of chainmail and pine and citrus, and she finds such unexpected comfort within his arms. Comfort she hasn't felt in years.

"Thank you," she says as she pulls away, her eyes glistening. "Truly, Arthur, thank you."

She sees a small blush appear on his cheeks as he nods and motions for her to go into the room, "Well, go on. Go enjoy breakfast with your friends."

Calliope's eyes stay locked with his for a few more moments before she gives him a smile and walks into the room with her orange cake. Her friends greet her as they hold their plates of breakfast food and as Calliope joins them, she turns one last time to the doorway that Arthur leans against, watching her with a fond expression.

And in that moment, Calliope knows that Camelot is where she's meant to be, and these people around her are her home, and she will do whatever she has to in order to keep them safe.

But what will that cost? She glances to the Prince again, swallowing the painful truth. He is the cost.

this chapter is so wholesome and I love it. I hope you guys enjoyed it too :) remember to vote and leave your thoughts in the comments <3