chapter twenty-eight!
028. worth fighting for

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    ODETTE REALISED that at some point in the night, she must've fallen asleep. For when the sun started to glow through the cracks in the branches and leaves above, and she opened her eyes, she found herself staring at another bed roll some paces away. She frowned, slowly pushing herself to sit on the forest bed, letting out a yawn as she stretched her arms. She glanced around her, and found the others still asleep. Odette pursed her lips and counted them on her fingers, muttering her friends' names silently to herself just to be sure she did not miss one.

    She soon came to the conclusion that there was an additional blanket that had not been there the evening before. Odette went back to staring at it, very confused. She turned her frown onto the horses, seeing another tethered with the rest; a pristine white mare whose coat and hooves were well-groomed▬her saddle stitched with a masters hand and her reins decorated; Odette made a face, knowing not even Ronyn could afford such attention to his horses▬it was a royal's steed.

    Carefully the young handmaiden stood up, rubbing her eyes. She turned away from the horse and the addition blanket, picking up her water skin and taking the small trek from the clearing to the creek that stretched just past the slope. Odette listened to the sound of the birds greeting each other a good morning as she stepped onto the rocky shore, kneeling down to cup the water in her palms and wet her face, trying to refreshen herself for the rest of the journey to Ealdor today. Merlin said to her last night that they should reach it before the end of the morning; that as soon as they crossed the border, there it would be just beyond the forests' edge.

    Odette started to refill her water skin when she heard someone walking up behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and her gaze widened only for it to then close in realisation▬for who else would have such a well-kept mare if not the Prince of Camelot?

    The young handmaiden stood up, closing the cork on her water skin. She watched Arthur approach in chainmail and armour, careful not to wear anything that held the Pendragon crest. She continued to watch him in silence as he crouched down and brought water to his cheeks, as well.

    "You followed?" Odette finally asked him as he stood up again.

    Arthur pursed his lips. She knew she would have come for Merlin▬just like the rest of them, but she also knew he would never openly admit it. Instead, he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword and said, "Someone will have to train the village men to fight."

    She managed a little, knowing smile. Swinging a little on her feet, Odette looked down to where her fingers fiddled with the cork on her skin. She twisted it around. "You followed," she said again simply and all-knowing▬her smile brightened a little when he lightly rolled his eyes.

    Then he held out his hand, asking for her water to which she passed it over. As he opened it up, he told her sternly, "You should not be here."

    Odette sent him a dry look, expecting it, "I was not going to leave Merlin when he needed me. He is my friend."

    Once he finished drinking from her water skin, he passed it back over▬Odette made a face to find it half-empty all over again. She took the cork, a little exasperated that she will have to fill it once more. As Arthur did, he said, "It is too dangerous."

    "I'll help the wounded▬"

    "Do you believe Kanen will leave an infirmary alone?" Arthur said to her pointedly and she pursed her lips. "A man like him has no honour▬he will attack an unharmed woman; he will do more than that."

    "I understand that."

    The Prince only shook his head, "You do not. If you did you would not have come."

    Odette sighed, trying very hard to not get annoyed with him when there is more pressing things▬they needed to prepare for the rest of the journey rather than argue about who should and who should not be here when they knew there was no turning back now. She knelt again to refill her skin. "You must think I consider everything a part of some fairytale."

    His silence gave her more of an answer than words ever would. Odette clasped the cork and sat back, meeting his gaze evenly. "Perhaps I am naive▬perhaps I think kindly of this world, but that does not mean I am ignorant. I do not pray for the best because I do not know any better, I pray because I know how horrible this life is▬I understand."

    She watched the way his gaze fell, realising what she meant. Odette pursed her lips, back to fiddling with her water skin lid. "I understand," she said again, and his gaze lifted to hers once more, for once quiet and attentive▬listening to her. "I understand and yet I still come, because Kanen does not scare me, Arthur. I may not know how to wield a sword, I may not have armour or chainmail ... but that does not mean I do not know how to fight in my own way. And it does not mean I will not help my friend, either."

    Once she finished, he still did not say a word. His brows knitted together, and he watched her in such a way that made her heart begin to race▬and yet, she could not read his face to understand why.

    Odette took a long breath and pushed herself up onto her feet again. She went to pass him, but before she could, he gently took her arm to make her stop. 

    "Odette," she heard him say, but whatever he wanted to follow it, fell dry off his tongue. She glanced up with a gentle surprise only to be met with a gaze that she could only describe as pure concern. 

    She remembered all the times she's gone to him, upset and worried▬begging him not to fight, or to be careful, knowing that despite her words, he would fight anyway because that was who he was. And now, here he stood, looking as if he wanted to ask her the same ... and yet he had no idea how. 

    It would feel wrong▬be wrong for her to dismiss it. To roll her eyes and walk off, to be determined to prove herself like she used to when they were children. It would be wrong. 

    Odette couldn't just ask him to give her something of his own, like he had from her▬she couldn't just give him anything, either. It didn't feel right▬not with everyone just over the slope and through the trees. But she still promised him. She still found herself taking a slow step closer to whisper: "I will be careful," to him. 

    Then, she understood that this moment▬whatever it meant▬needed to end. Even if she wanted to stay there; even if she wanted to wish that maybe there would be more said, Odette found it better to never let it pass this line. It pained her, but amongst all of her fairytales, she understood this world. She understood where her place was. 

    She didn't know whether she was imagining it. She did not know whether it was real, the way he was looking at her. Odette wondered whether even he knew. She was sure▬she trusted that if he did, he would make the same decisions she was making right now; for herself. 

    Odette stepped back, and his grip around her arm started to slip▬brushing and falling away back to his side. She managed a stiff smile, "I should prepare for the rest of the journey, Sire. We cannot waste much time."

    As she turned to walk away, she was surprised when Arthur called her back to say, "You know▬you do not have to call me that, here ..." he pursed his lips, trying to figure out what he wished to say, "... I mean, we are not in Camelot▬we can be ... well, I suppose we can be the friends we've always been and there will be no one who will say otherwise."

    She just shook her head, "No," she told him gently and she saw something like disappointment settle in his eyes. "You are my Prince," then said the handmaiden. "I am proud that you are my Prince. I am proud to be your subject▬I am proud to scrub your floors and I am proud to dust your cupboards. There is every need for me to call you such, Sire."

    The disappointed started to lift, and while there was a breath of confusion▬like he didn't know how to take her words▬, there was also a fresh look about him ... like hearing her say those words about him let some part of him finally breathe. "I do not hope to be King for a long time," he told her▬he sounded as if he tried to chide her, but it broke away to something hesitant, and vulnerable. 

    Odette smile turned genuine, "But one day, you will be. And I will scrub your floors, Sire, for when that day comes, and I will continue to scrub them when it passes▬and it will be the greatest honour."

    And she truly did mean it. For while her life will never go anywhere from where it is now▬she will be happy, and she will be content, knowing that she will watch Arthur Pendragon grow from a boy into a legend. She has always served him, not his father; she knew that. She has known that for a very long time. But now she believed he has started to understand that, too. Or if not now, one day, she hoped he will. 

    The young maid curtsied to the Prince, and with another smile, made her way back up the slope and through the trees; and Arthur Pendragon couldn't tear his eyes away, even moments after she was gone. 

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    THEY CLOSED in on Ealdor late that morning. Odette held her breath, keeping her back straight to help the pain she held from riding for so long. The mare she had been gifted for the trip from Ronyn seemed timid at first, but she kept tugging her head back, wanting to stray away from the path they were taking▬showing interest in the flowers and grass at the forest bed. Odette spent most of her energy clicking her tongue and tapping her heels, tugging the reins to make sure she returned to the road. The saddle she sat on was fine, and the mare's coat was just the same; a glorious chestnut with white patches. She was quite energetic, too, huffing out many comments for what Odette presumed to be no reason, startling her and making her scared that she was handling her wrong. 

    She did not ride much. She only learnt the basics for whenever she travelled with Morgana. If her horse was to balk at something, she would not be able to pull the mare back to sense without falling off, she was sure. 

    Before, Ronyn had been chuckling and jeering at her troubles with her horse, but now that Ealdor lied just over the slope▬lying on the edge of the forest, there were no laughs and barely any chatter; Merlin was stiff on the back of his horse, trotting beside his mother, and Odette knew he was a little scared on what he might find returning home. 

    In the silent ride, Odette found herself continuously glancing shyly to where Arthur was not far in front of her. She pursed her lips, telling herself to focus on something else▬anything else. Her horse threw her head once more and Odette cursed some unkind words to the Lord▬as if the mare knew she was getting distracted. 

    "Why did I get the frustrating one?" she grumbled to herself, shifting in her saddle and wrapping the reins tighter to pull the horse back as she tried to turn herself the other way. Odette huffed, annoyed as they went in a small circle, "Why ..."

    She heard Ronyn hitch back a small giggle as he passed her, just watching her struggle. 

    Odette tapped her heels against the mares side once she was facing the right direction and she jolted forward into a rushed trot before settling down, huffing at her. Odette rolled her eyes, "You are impossible," she told the horse. 

    Perhaps she sensed the dreaded anticipation that hung low over the group, neither of them too sure on what they were going to face once they reached the end of the road. They had stepped onto this journey with the determination to help Merlin, but now that they were near its end, they realised that they had barely given any thought on how they were going to stop Kanen just by themselves. 

    Maybe her mare sensed her own anxiety and frustration, and it only made her temperamental personality even worse. 

    But when they heard the scream▬a shrill, horrifying sound that cut through the stiff morning air, each and every hair on the back of their necks stood on end. 

    They all glanced at each other, eyes wide and breaths hitched. Odette's heart started to pace, tense in her saddle as she watched Arthur take off without another moments thought. With a sharp, "Yah▬!" to his horse, he pushed forward down the road at a gallop, rounding past Merlin and Hunith with ease. It didn't take long before the others urged their steeds to follow. 

    Odette struggled to keep up at a canter, holding her reins tight as her horse's hooves pounded on the rough earth. She could feel her heart racing with each thud of the ground beneath her, racing over the slope and down the pathway towards the edge of the forest▬the screams had gotten louder; there was more of them. Shouts and desperate, horrified cries pierced their ears. 

    Darting through the trees and out into the valley, Odette saw a small village nestled there amongst fields of grass and cattle. Small cottages and thatch-roofed huts were spread out amongst self-made stone and wooden fences; a single well was built in the village's centre, pigs feasted in pens, cows and sheep grazed the fields▬it was small; any one who might look through the trees and find this place would call it nothing else other than peaceful.

    Except that it was far from it. 

    As they cantered into the field, Odette could see at least forty men▬some on horseback, others on foot. They wore a mix of rugged chainmail or leather armour▬their weapons and their clothes stolen from any unlucky soul they terrorised. She has never seen this vast group of bandits come together (lucky, she's never actually seen a bandit in her life until now)▬they all wore the same coloured scarfs tied to their arms, their legs, around their waist or across their nose and mouth; their arms, faces and necks were all riddled with scars▬they yelled and they jeered; knocking villagers off their feet, stealing their grain and tugging women by their hair; to which they screeched and kicked, desperate to get away. 

    But the worst of them all was the man who swung a heavy-handed axe on a jagged handle of wood. He laughed, and when he did, the scar▬like a strike of lightning all the way down from his forehead to his severed lip▬contorted with a menacing glint. He wore a set of blood-stained chainmail and armour over ragged clothes; but by a bandit's life, this man lived comfortably. Stolen rings glinted on his fingers, women's earrings were clipped into his long, greying beard. He looked more Viking than Saxon, but he had the vicious ruthlessness of both. He kicked the villager at his feet. The poor man coughed and curled up, clutching his side▬he had no ability to defend himself as Kanen flung up his axe over his head, breaking out into a sinister grin as he prepared to let it fall down▬

    His swing staggered to a stop▬it hovered just over the dagger blade that had impaled itself into the fence post just by his head with remarkable accuracy. 

    Kanen glanced over and his grinned dropped, surprised to see Arthur riding into battle, unsheathing his sword from its scabbard with ease as he veered his gelding through the mud-brick homes one-handed. 

    The men around scattered. They left the children and woman alone, rushing for their weapons as the group of them arrived. 

    Arthur leapt off his horse and met a bandit's blade mid-swing. He grasped the hilt with his other hand and slid the blade down▬in seconds, he disarmed him and brought his sword clean across the man's abdomen. He continued on without a second glance to the man left dying on the grass. 

   The others weren't far behind. As soon as he pulled his horse to a stop, Merlin was on the ground, stumbling to grab his sword and run in to help. He gasped and ducked a wide swing over his head and just kept running. Karen's surprise fell away, and he quickly waved his axe in fury, "KILL THEM▬!" he shouted. 

    Odette and Adelynn pulled to a stop nearby Ronyn. As they leapt off, their boots planting on the ground, he quickly threw a hand out to them, "Stay there!" he ordered the two young girls before he spun his blade and rushed in to support Arthur's left. The two of them fought well together; they trained with each other since young children for as long as they could, and it showed. They battled the aggressive, crazed fighting with their refined, disciplined techniques that were reflective of the great Roman army▬both of them went back and forth, at each others backs. They felled their opponents at similar times, taking a moment to nod at each other, pat the other on the back and rush onwards. 

    Odette watched, a little helpless in all the chaos. She took off her cloak and threw it over the back of her saddle, hearing the footsteps of Hunith and Gwen running to their sides. The young handmaiden searched for a way to help▬and it wasn't long before some bandits noticed them standing by the horses. They ran straight for them. 

    "Oh, no▬" let out Odette as they approached. "That's not▬that's not good▬" she grappled for something she could use, but in seconds, there was a shrill sound and she glanced over, eyes wide and shocked to see Guinevere wielding her own weapon. 

    She heaved it upwards and locked into battle with a man much taller than her. Perhaps the shock of a woman attacking him helped, but Gwen easily swiped his swing away and awkwardly struck the hilt against the man's head. They all watched, amazed, as the bandit crumpled to her feet, unconscious. 

    Adelynn gaped at Guinevere as she glanced back at them, flushed from the short fight. "You know how to fight?!" exclaimed the young Vecentia▬and the absolute look of awe in her eyes made Gwen blush, sheepish.

    "Um," she chuckled, "I▬blacksmith's daughter," she shrugged. 

   Meanwhile, Arthur was engaged in a vicious sword-lock. He pushed against the bandit who only just pushed back, both of them fighting to get the upper hand and disarm▬he didn't see the man run up behind him. Just as he managed to shove the bandit back, the other's sword swung out▬

    He spun around to block it, but someone got there first. Morgana gritted her teeth as she pushed the blade back down overhead. It got stuck in the marsh and she sliced the man's stomach. As he dropped, she shot a cheeky grin over her shoulder, shuffling past Arthur with a mischievous: "Bring back memories of when I used to beat you?"

    Arthur made a face as she left, "That never happened!"

    "If you listen closely," Ronyn took a breather, spinning his blade and sending Arthur a quick grin, "you will hear the absolute lies."

    Odette searched for Merlin to make sure that he was okay. She found him pressed up against a wall, flustered as he struggled to keep a sword inches from his neck. But the bandit's victorious chuckles were short lived the moment his blade mysteriously began to glow ... and then with that glow, came the smoke curling up around his palms▬and then came the pain. He cried out, he screamed as the hilt of his sword suddenly became as hot as fire. He dropped it and Merlin ran him through. 

    Around them, the remainder of Kanen's crew started to mount their horses and shuffle back. Their leader mounted his own. He glanced around at his fallen men until he landed a deadly scowl upon the Prince of Camelot, "You'll pay for this," he sneered as he tugged his steed around. "With your lives!" he added▬a livid promise. "ALL OF YOU▬!"

    He and his men retreated back into the cover of the forest. Most trampled the remaining crops as they did underfoot, holding all that they could carry of these people's food. But at least the people of Ealdor had their lives, today.

    There were a few breathless moments of silence as the people of Ealdor and Odette's friends all reconfigured themselves. Merlin heaved forward, thankful for his life until he quickly held out an arm to his mother who immediately fretted over him. Ronyn wiped blood from his blade, turning around as his sister ran towards him to check whether he was okay. Morgana came over to congratulate Guinevere on her sword craft. Odette glanced around, watching the villagers gather themselves▬helping each other back onto their feet and consoling upset children. Some had managed to steal back some of their grain, and celebrated softly to themselves▬but it was weak; it was tired. They were tired.

    She blinked, confused when she heard someone jogging over to her. Odette spun around, and she felt something flutter in her chest as Arthur stopped by her side, "You all right?" he asked her. 

   Odette was momentarily surprised; her brows furrowed, not expecting him to come and check on her. But she nodded, and he clasped a hand on her shoulder. "Good," he said. "Come on▬"

   She didn't say anything▬Odette just let Arthur lead her forward, and then she followed him to the centre of the village; jogging a little to catch up. She stepped around dead bodies and did her best not to look, passing Merlin who had taken time to reunite with somebody she could tell must have been an old friend by the way the two of them joked and lightly wrestled. 

    As they did, Arthur called, "Merlin▬" he glanced back, "gather the villagers. I need to talk to them."

    He nodded, "Y▬yeah▬" he gestured to the boy standing with him; shorter but sturdier, with mousy-brown hair and a look on his face▬as if Merlin was only proving his point. "In a minute, I'm just talking▬"

    "Now, Merlin," Arthur gently tugged Odette along who had been staring. Merlin made a face, a little bewildered at the sight. She only shrugged in reply. "There isn't much time."

    She left Arthur to join Gwen and Morgana, reaching out to hold her mistress's sleeve▬the group of them stood, waiting as Merlin gathered the villagers from the surrounds. They began to shuffle in front and around the well, watching Arthur with a slight frown as he stood up on top of it. Soon, each and every person of Ealdor stood together in the village centre, giving each of them a curious glance. Odette shared a quick exchange with Ronyn across the well from where he stood on its other side with Merlin and Adelynn. 

    Arthur gazed down at the villagers, and already he was sizing them up▬trying to see which of the men would be good fighters; at the slight fall of his face, Odette knew he was disappointed. But he set his jaw and spoke to them anyway, "I know Karen's kind," he began loud and clear. "He'll be back. And when he is, we must be ready for him. First of all, we have to prepare▬"

    Someone shouldered their way to the front of the small crowd. Merlin's friend from earlier scoffed up at the Prince, "Am I the only one wondering who the Hell this is?" he gestured lazily up at Arthur▬by the looks of his woollen scarf and finer garbs, Odette realised he must be the son of the village lord, if not the nobleman of Ealdor. 

    Arthur sized him up, too, "I'm Prince Arthur of Camelot."

    The boy snorted to himself. "Yeah," he let out sarcastically, "And I'm▬er▬Prince William of Ealdor."

    Merlin sighed to himself▬as if he was annoyed, but not surprised. His mother turned to William and quickly chided his sarcasm with a hushed: "Keep quiet. He's here to help us."

    "He's made things worse!" said William of Ealdor. "Kanen will be back▬and when he is, he will be looking for revenge." He pointed to Arthur. "You've just signed our death warrant."

    "He saved Matthew's life!"

    "It's all right, Hunith," said Arthur, holding out a hand to Merlin's mother. He nodded to William. "This is his village. What would you have us do?"

    Merlin's friend pursed his lips. He glanced around at the expectant stares and sighed out, "We can't fight against Kanen. He has too many men."

    Arthur stared him down, "So what is the alternative?"

    William set his jaw▬reluctantly, he said: "We give him what he wants..." immediately, the rest of the villagers sighed and threw their heads up to the heavens with frustration.

    "And then what?" demanded Arthur, ignoring the way the boy's gaze turned to fire. "Those of you who don't starve to death will face him again next harvest, and the harvest after that."

    "We'll manage," argued William. "We'll survive."

   This caused more exasperated uproar. "How?!" some villagers asked him, and he didn't look as if he could come up with a better answer.

    "The only way," then said Arthur, "he can be stopped is if you stand up to him."

    William frowned at him. Then, he scoffed▬he started to grow angrily. "No," he let out. He shook his head. "No▬" he jabbed his finger back up at Arthur, suddenly quite livid, "▬you just want the honour and glory of battle. That's what drives men like you! Look, if you want to fight, then go home and risk the lives of your own people, not ours!"

    He stormed off. Merlin watched him go, and a sad breath of understanding washed over his face. "Will▬" he tried before he ran after his friend. The two of them disappeared deeper into the village. 

    The villagers were a little unsure. All of them watched the two boys walk away, and there was a tense moment of silence where no one spoke. Then, Hunith took a deep breath. She set her jaw▬determined, she nodded to herself and stepped forward, "I'll follow you," she told Arthur Pendragon. "If I am to die, then I want to go out fighting!"

    And just like that, it was a momentum of support. Odette watched, feeling a swell of pride as after Hunith, stepped forward Mathew▬the man Arthur saved cowering at Kanen's feet▬, "That goes for me, too!" Then came a woman who grasped his hand and nodded; his wife. More and more villagers stepped forward▬the old and the young; the men and the women, even the elder children ... soon enough, the entire village was standing before Arthur, determined to fight for their livelihoods and Odette had to bite back a smile. 

    That night, they all came together under Hunith's roof. It was small, and so they had to sleep, shoulder-to-shoulder underneath the same blankets (and their own they had brought for the journey). There was only one bed, and there was no argument that it belonged to Merlin's mother. But even then, she tried to offer it up to Arthur who only shook his head. She was remarkably welcoming, to the whole lot of them. Despite having a shortage of food, she managed to prepare them each a bowl of porridge for the night▬warm and fresh right off the fire.

    Odette helped Hunith as much as she could. She wanted to feel useful▬helping her clean after the raid, gather bowls and wooden spoons for dinner, preparing beds for herself and her friends ... not only did she want to feel useful, but the young handmaiden wanted to help out her dear friend's mother as much as possible. She owed Merlin at least that▬but she knew there was a debt far larger for her to repay. She soon understood how the warlock had become so caring, and so sweet▬who taught him to stand up for himself and to be grateful for the life he has been given. Merlin was very much his mother's son, and it was nice to see. 

    She knew the others were watching her work continuously, and was expecting Ronyn's comment of: "I'm going to have a great night sleep watching you work▬it is making me exhausted."

    Odette rolled her eyes as she lightly tapped him to move his feet so she could pick up the small wooden sculptures that had fallen from the table▬they were hand-crafted little horses and dragons. "Happy to be the one doing enough work for the both of us, My Lord."

    Morgana grinned, proud of her maid at the jab▬and mirthful to see the playful scowl Ronyn sent after her, "Hear that, Ronyn? That is the sound of your pride breaking."

    He mimicked her voice as he ate his porridge, being sure to eat every single mouthful. When he sat it back down on the table, there was not a scrap left to go to waste. Ronyn missed the little smile Guinevere held to see such consideration. "I don't see you sweeping the floor, Morgana," he quipped back. 

    The Lady Morgana pointed her spoon back at him, "That is because I am enjoying my victory of saving Arthur▬yet again."

    Arthur made a face across from her. He had barely touched his food. "You did not save me," he argued, indigent. "I would have▬" he scoffed, "▬I could have taken that bandit easily."

   The King's Ward pouted her lips with mocking pity. "It is so sad," she cooed at him, "the fact that you cannot admit you were saved by a woman."

    The Prince replied with a sarcastic smile. She matched it perfectly. 

    Odette picked up Ronyn's finished meal, still not taking a moment to sit down yet. She returned it to the bench by the fire, prepared to pick up the bucket in order to get some water from the well to wash up. But before she could, Hunith took her arm, gently forcing her to set the bucket down. 

    "You must sit and eat something," chided the mother. 

    The young handmaiden shook her head kindly, "No. I have eaten enough today▬you must save it for tomorrow."

    Hunith had a sad smile on her face, watching Odette with a sense of familiarity. Before she knew it, Merlin's mother rubbed her shoulder, "I must thank you," she said.

    Odette frowned, a little taken aback by her words, "What on earth for?" she whispered back in the same gentle tone. 

    Merlin's mother squeezed her shoulder, "I know you are close with my son," she said in a soft voice so no one else would hear. "I understand you know his secret..." Hunith reached out to cup Odette's cheek, and she didn't even move away▬enamoured by the touch ... and how much she missed such motherly love. "Thank you for keeping it▬and thank you for being there for him."

    Odette blushed a little, "He's there for me," she answered simply. "I should be the one thanking him."

    She was surprised when Hunith pulled her in for a hug. Her breath hitched, not expecting it, but then she relaxed▬Odette smiled as she set her chin on the woman's shoulder, rubbing her back. She found herself catching Arthur's gaze as it drifted over, and they were locked into a gentle exchange that made her blush again. She sent him a shy little smile as well. 

    Then, when he realised he had been watching her for too long, the Prince straightened his shoulders and passed his dinner right off to Adelynn who just finished her own. She took it, a little confused. "I believe it is time to retire for the night▬Merlin."

   His manservant rushed to finish his food before stepping away from the table with him. Watching them go, Ronyn pursed his lips. Odette knew he was desperately holding in an inappropriate joke. 

    Arthur sensed it, too, and he flicked the back of his head in passing and Ronyn chuckled to himself, light-hearted before he, too, followed to retire with them as well. 

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    THE NEXT MORNING, they started training the men. All together, the group of friends▬all of differing classes, ideas and upbringings▬got ready under the same roof. It was a refreshing experience, chatting and joking with each other without the eyes of Camelot upon them. Odette had found an extra set of flowers to put in Adelynn's hair. Merlin and Arthur decided to scare Ronyn awake after they realised he had slept in. Morgana did Guinevere's hair for a change as Odette helped Adelynn folded up their blankets for the day▬the girls all sharing a sweet laugh amongst each other when they heard Merlin's painful cry after Ronyn lightly smacked him (now very much awake). 

    For while they have been through quite a lot in their separate lives, they all had a part of them that still longed for the innocence and blissful ignorance of a child. With each other, they realised that they could laugh and enjoy themselves before the day was to begin▬a group of friends. 

    Odette helped Hunith yet again that morning once she was dressed and ready. She gathered their empty dishes and cups of water▬only to falter when she found one bowl still filled to the brim with porridge. Whoever had it, barely ate even a bite. 

    She glanced up, confused as Morgana approached Arthur standing near the door, holding out his arms as Merlin slipped on his leather vest. She smirked, leaning against the stone and mud-brick wall to tease: "Have you still not learned how to dress yourself?"

    Arthur narrowed his eyes back at her, "You don't have a dog and fetch the stick yourself," he rebutted. Then, he glanced at his servant tying his sleeves. "Uh▬no offence, Merlin."

    "None taken," muttered the manservant, not even listening. 

    Hunith noticed where Odette had stopped. In seeing the bowl of uneaten porridge, she breathed a sweet little smile and picked it up. "Prince Arthur," she made her way towards him, holding out the meal, "you didn't finish your breakfast."

    Odette watched him intently as he feigned surprise. He stammered for a second, slowly taking the bowl from Hunith's fingers, "Didn't I?" he managed and Morgana quirked an accusing brow. 

    "Come on," she taunted, "eat up."

    Arthur shot her a scowl when Hunith wasn't looking. He held up his spoon, as if to take another bite. But once Merlin's mother's back was turned, he set it back down. "Hmmm!" he let out, pretending as if he had taken a bite. 

    Then, when he was sure she wouldn't see, Arthur shuffled across the small room and placed the bowl straight into Odette's passing hands. She stared, a little surprised▬until the surprise turned into a flicker of annoyance as she watched him swivel around and hurry back to Merlin and Ronyn. 

    "Right▬" he patted them both on the back, "▬let's get going. We need wood, and lots of it."

    Odette scowled after him as he left through the open door. She played with the food in the bowl. She finished eating it for him so Hunith wouldn't be offended. As she did, she wondered whether he even realised how inconsiderate and rude he was. She set the empty bowl aside and marched out of the home, grumbling an alphabet of insults to herself. 

    The entire day was full of labour. Arthur paraded to and fro between lines of the villager men, doing his best to try and prepare them for battle. He ordered them as if they were his own knights▬putting them through various exercises to make sure they learnt how to block a blow as well as deliver one. They struck each other back and forth with makeshift swords made out of wood. Ronyn tried to help, walking through and being particular with footwork and aiding those who were falling and dragging behind▬but they were all falling behind. Their hits were sluggish. They had the muscle to carry wheat and wrangle sheep, but not the strength to fight with a blade▬they tired quickly, and each time that Arthur ordered them to get back up again, their motivation only dwindled. 

    Odette▬along with the women and girls of the village▬prepared bandages and as much food as they could spare for the men training. They started to pack provisions and clothes, and searched for anything that could be used as a weapon for when the battle came. She set up a small infirmary inside the village's hall, and already she had a few men coming in with splinters from cracked wooden swords and bruises to their ribs. 

    Guinevere and Morgana were tasked with creating as many steel weapons they could. Gwen found home at the village blacksmith, using the wet stone to sharpen the blades she had brought all the way from Camelot. Each one she finished, she set aside on the workbench and in racks▬and soon enough, the blacksmith's daughter had started up a small shop; she tested the weight of men, their height and their strength before trying to pair them up with a sword that was best suited. None were perfectly balanced▬barely any farmer could hold up a sword properly, but to hold a blade was better than to hold none. 

    Merlin continued to gather wood to build trenches and barriers to deter the bandits' horses. He scraped away at the edges to turn them into a point with a knife with the help of some of the older children▬scowling to himself as his friend, William, sat back and brooded without offering a hand to help. 

    Adelynn found him like this, awkwardly making her way over and holding out a small bowl of water from the well. Merlin glanced up and decided to take it. His brows furrowed, but he said, "Thanks."

    "You seemed as though you needed some," she smiled awkwardly and decided to take the seat beside him. Merlin involuntarily hunched up, being so close to a girl of such high-birth as she▬he wasn't sure whether he was supposed to move away and sit on the grass so he was lower. 

    Adelynn didn't realise. She just fiddled with her fingers before muttering, "All of this ... you could stop Kanen's men by yourself, could you not?"

    He continued to frown at her question, but▬once he glanced around to make sure no one was listening▬he said: "I suppose, yes. But I cannot."

    "Why?" she asked him, and she wasn't sure what answer she wanted. 

    Merlin leaned forward, playing with the dagger in his hand. He turned it around, surprisingly good at it▬Adelynn arched a brow, wondering whether the clumsy act he always held was just that ... an act. "It is hard to explain."

    "Try me."

    He sighed. He met her gaze to see it patient and attentive▬different to the one she held on the way to Ealdor; she wanted to hear about his magic, instead of denying it. He wondered what changed▬or whether she even realised how open she was being about it right now. Merlin pursed his lips, "If Arthur finds out," he began softly, "everything I've worked for▬everything he is destined to do ... it won't come to pass. If he finds out about my magic, I would have to leave Camelot forever, and my destiny would be ruined."

    Adelynn's brows furrowed, "Your destiny?"

    "We all have a destiny," he told her wisely▬a voice so wise from a being so youthful, it was startling. "Arthur's destiny is to lead the greatest kingdom in all of history▬but he needs my help. The only way I can do that is to keep my powers a secret ... until the time is ready for him to know."

    She thought on his words, gaze slowly drifting to where Arthur desperately tried to train these men▬she couldn't quite imagine a boy she knew as arrogant, and annoying (that used to tease her when she was little) as a great king, but she supposed all people had the possibility of change▬if they had the right people around them that believed they could. 

    "How can you do it?" she whispered to Merlin. "How can you be at his side ... use your magic ... knowing that if Arthur ever found out▬if anyone else found out, they'd have you executed? Does that not scare you? Would it be better to not use your magic at all?"

    "No," Merlin shook his head. Her ears fell back, not sure how to take such a forward response. He gave her a shy, weak smile. "I was given my magic for a reason, just like you were given it▬I didn't think so before, but now I know; magic is a force for good. And one day, Arthur will create a world where we won't be persecuted▬he'll bring forth an era of greatness. That is what will make the struggle worth it."

    Adelynn realised that when Merlin spoke▬spoke of this promised future; of destiny and reasons for the way things were, she wanted to believe him. But her rationality told her otherwise. And yet, still, she wanted him to be right ... she wanted there to be a reason she was here; a reason why she was given such a curse that he seemed to believe was a blessing. "What is my destiny, then?" she asked him, vulnerable. "If I was given this for a reason▬what reason is it? It cannot to be terrified of the thought of someone finding out▬to feel so overwhelmed I cannot breathe. To be corrupted and to be killed▬"

    "The only thing that corrupts magic is the hearts of men," Merlin cut her off to tell her, rather strong and stern. Her eyes widened, not expecting it. "You are the one who decides whether magic is something good, or something evil."

    "What if I do not know whether my heart is good?" she muttered sadly.

    Merlin frowned, something about him turning gentle. He stared at her as if she was purely just a reflection of his own troubles▬that she seemed to understand him in a way no one else could, and it was slightly intimidating. "I do," he decided to then tell her. "I know you have a good heart. And I know you are destined for greatness. The last thing magic makes you, Adelynn, is a monster."

    She became at a loss for words. Merlin gave her another stiff and awkward smile, but there was a kindness to it, too. Adelynn had to look away, doing her very best to not show how much those words he said resonated within her▬meant something to her. 

    The men continued to get more and more tired throughout the day. Odette took a break herself from preparations, yawning a little to herself and stretching out her arms. She made her way towards where Morgana and Guinevere had set up shop, rubbing her eyes in her working dress she had worn for today. The skirts were covered in dirt and mud from helping out all around the village▬wherever she was needed. 

    Morgana saw her and let out a breath of surprise, "My goodness, you look utterly exhausted, Odette!"

    "I am," she mumbled, brushing her hair off her face. "There is just so much that needs to be done. These men do not just need to learn to fight, there is daily errands that still need to be done, blankets to be gathered, still more bandages and herbs to be gathered, trenches to be dug for posts, food to be made▬I think▬" she let out a rather long yawn, "▬I believe the baker managed to make a fresh batch of bread for the men. I will take that over to them with some water soon, I believe. Not to mention the children want to help, so I have been helping them pack bags full of belongings and provisions for when they hide out in the forest ..." another long yawn, "... I have been doing so much."

    Gwen tilted her head a little at Odette, and such a strange thought crossed her mind. If anyone were to consider Arthur leading these men▬then on the other side of it all, they would have to consider the young handmaiden yawning in front of her leading the rest; taking care all of that needed to be done that the Prince could not organise without even being told she needed to. 

    She had stepped into this role as if it ... well, heaven forbid, natural for her.

    Here they were sharpening swords. There, Arthur and Ronyn were training men. Adelynn and Merlin were hovering around gathering and shaping wood for the trenches▬but none could compare to what Odette has laboured the entire day, and no one even took a moment to notice. While everyone's minds were forefront on the battle that would arrive at this quaint little village, Odette Mason had projected her attention on everything and everyone else▬and managed to undertake it all. 

    Guinevere never once underestimated Odette, that was for sure, but after today, she had a blatant reminder that she never should, either.

    "Look at you go," Morgana praised her, flicking her hair out of her face as she pulled the wet stone to a stop. "You are doing enough work for the entire group of men▬they are all exhausted for you." 

    She nodded to the men that had slumped for another break▬tired, aching and barely looking as if they could stand up for another round. 

    The three girls watched, troubled.

    Morgana sighed, "There is no way they are going to be able to hold Kanen off."

    Gwen pursed her lips. She examined the sword that glinted with a freshly sharpened point. "Men are not the only ones who can fight," she stated. 

    They each shared a small, determined smile. Then, Morgana's brows bounced, "Well, try and convince Arthur to let you fight, Guinevere," she muttered.

    Odette frowned, "Well, we will never know if we do not," she said. Gwen nodded, agreeing with her. "He knows the men are not trained fighters, perhaps that will help him understand he needs more numbers."

    Morgana shook her head, "You and I both know how Arthur is. He will not risk the life of a woman in the face of Kanen and his men."

    Odette set her jaw▬after such a long, tiring and productive morning, she had gown quite stubborn in the face of whatever Arthur might say. "If you do not ask him, I will."

    And just like that, the young handmaiden started off towards the Prince at a determined march. Her two friends shared a startled (but impressed) look, before following. 

    They found Arthur getting himself water by the well▬he looked tired and exasperated; if not more tired than the men. As he noticed them approach, he glanced up.

    "Looks as if the battle has already been fought and lost," Morgana muttered, nodding to the men sitting and lying around. 

    Arthur followed their gazes. He set his jaw and took a sip of his water, "They will toughen up," he said. 

    "They need to," muttered Guinevere. 

    The Prince set his jaw at the comment. "How are we doing for weapons?" he instead asked. 

    "There isn't much," admitted Morgana, "but we should be able to scrape together what you need."

    They glanced at each other, a bit wary for their next question. Odette set her jaw and stepped closer, "The worry is not the number of weapons," she said. "There isn't enough men to use them. We believe the women should have the choice to fight, as well."

    Arthur smiled into his water. Once he finished, he shook his head▬as if he expected this from her; and despite perhaps knowing she would ask the question, he chuckled to himself like it was something endearing and not serious of her at all. Odette huffed, her annoyance with him only growing. 

    Noticing, Morgana quickly interjected, "You haven't enough men," she said gently. "If they were trained soldiers, maybe you would stand a chance. But they are not."

    "You must admit that you are drastically outnumbered," Odette tried▬and Arthur set his jaw once more. "You do not have your knights, My Lord▬you have families. You cannot treat them as such▬any of them, man or woman."

    The Prince would not listen to any more. He set a stern gaze upon Odette and told her, "It is too dangerous." He walked off, not giving her the chance to argue and she sighed, frustrated. 

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    a/n: 

   I have work tomorrow again :(

   my girl odette being queen of this little village and showing she's very much capable without even realising has my heart <3

    also merlin and adelynn >>>>> 

   boi is literally telling her everything he wished someone told him before he came to camelot. (and even during). giving her destiny talks and everything >>> 

    by the way the fact adelynn almost immediately recognises that merlin rly isn't as clumsy or as hopeless as he makes himself out to be. he just does it to make his secret seem all the more absurd to believe like its sweet

    also odette and arthur >>>

    just a cute lil' chapter them all being friends I love this episode ..

   btw I'm watching the changeling episode. its one of my favourites but my god its weird.

    lol my some of my most fav episodes are the weirdest ones.