Twins Eyes // Merlin Fanfic

Percival - Chapter 11

"Get down from the tree, put your hands up and stand in front of me before I cut the tree down and get you out that way."

I stiffened, a harsh, deep voice commanding me from behind. The heavy, twig-snapping and to say the least indiscreet footsteps had halted ever so slightly behind my sleeping place. Though I doubted that he'd seriously cut the whole tree down, I saw no point in resistance anyway, and hopped down in one fluid motion.

A tall, fair haired knight stood before me, capeless and sleeveless where he'd cut loose the chainmail from where it should've been on his arms. This allowed his strong muscles to show, radiating his apparent strength and lack of a bath, according to the thick layer of grime clinging to his biceps. I didn't fear him, however, because he was leaning against the trunk of my tree calmly, an air of arrogance almost enveloping his cocky pose.

"You must be Percy," I replied curtly. He smirked, looking to the floor before glancing snidely back my way.

"I am a knight of Camelot. You can't address me that way, Kaira," he countered perfectly, barely stopping for a second to think. It was almost as if having a set of cogs in his brain that worked at triple speed was natural. Although, being a knight, his mind probably worked that way. They all seemed too - uptight and witty, ready to outwit the enemy. Ikon my case, he wouldn't have seen me as much more than a maiden. Young and dirty and wild. Slightly taken aback and more than a little miffed, I sniffed, wracking my tired brain for some kind of snarky remark.

"Much as that might be, I could take you down with a single glare," I finished. I sighed inside though, for he seemed to know to whom I was related, and, well, it wouldn't do well to see him return to Camelot with me back in shackles and Merlin beside me.

He just chuckled in response, his bold figure barely moving with the deep roar of his laugh.
"I assume you think you're a sorcerer, do you then, girl?" He questioned with a mocking tone rich in his voice. There it was again - the cool and collected manner of a man addressing me as if I was some insolent child, feral and lost.

Had he already confused me with the girl he 'fell in love with'? Lamia?

Surely my beauty wasnt that posessive? Well, I certainly posessed the power of beautiful sarcasm, not so sure on the facial features front.

This was not the Percival that Merlin had told me all about, animatedly explaining how courageous and suave he was. Though his physique lived up to the many tales I'd been told, I wasn't exactly sure he was the very same noble knight.

Maybe Lamia wasn't the only person to invade his brain and take over.

During my deductions concering the burly fellow sood before me, I had a rather difficult debate forming in my mind. If I proved to him that I was indeed a sorceress, I would severely endanger my family and their name, my dear sibling included. However, if I didn't, I would likely be imprisoned for disobeying the law of banishment and most possibly hanged.

Neither seemed a cheerful option.

"What if I am? What if I am a sorceress of-of great power? I could take you down here and now. " I threatened with my nose high in the air, looking down at him.

Not literally though. He was about half a foot taller than I.

He simply laughed again, taking me for a jest, a joker.

"I would have to imprison you, m'lady."

At least he had some manners, to say the most.

His voice died away, an eyebrow now raised as if to challenge me, asking me - are you really willing to give up your secret? The mischevious glint in his eyes gave me the impression he almost knew the answer, but wasn't quite ready for either outcome.

One of us would be going home with a sore head, either way.

"I'm sure you'd manage that, wouldn't you? After I've knocked you out cold and-and returne- retreated to my residence?"

I swallowed a rather tense lump in my throat, his eyes weighing me up as he took account of my weight, stance and obvious first hand strength. Though my biceps weren't large chunks of ham, I was strong and nimble and didn't think I'd have too much trouble putting him out of his comfort zone. And that was before I'd even contemplated magic.

He grinned, aware of my hidden strengths and other abilities. With this he just turned away, and I breathed an internal sigh of relief. Perhaps he was finally going to leave me alone to disobey laws in peace.

"Have fun retreating to your residence, little princess," he called back before taking a few short steps away.

He'd flicked my fuse and he knew it. The hesitation in his step as I screamed an enchantment at his back was the indicator, and when his body soared into the air, I fled as fast as I could muster.

Kaira you fool! How likely is it that he was travelling with a troupe of men, knights and guards alike? The fact that even Arthur could be in the woods?

Very likely.

I ran back to the spot where I knew Morgana's hut would be, willing with all of my magic for the door to appear before me. Just as I gave up all hope, I fell through into space and a loud clang sounded behind me. Picking myself up off the floor and dusting my dress down, I was lead to see Morgana grinning down at me.

"Finally figured the way in, I see?" She smiled wider, offering a pale hand from the tattered cuff of her long dress and I accepted it gratefully.

I returned my shallow, rapid breathing to normal, and the rickety door closed softly behind me.
"Percival, out there, guards, tree," I stuttered, trying to explain what had happened whilst I'd been exiled from Morgana's home. She just threw her head back and laughed, a deeper and more intense laugh than I had heard before. It was rather more like a cackle, my bones rattling as hey shivered inwardly.

"He won't look long. Arthur is discussing battle plots with his father about the Saxons, and the others are simply too high class to venture this far out. Trust me, you're safe," she countered.
I feared she had spoken to soon though, as hurried footsteps pounced the ground, stomping heavily and quickly along through the leafy ground underfoot.

Morgana lifted a delicate finger to her pale lips, and I held my breath as the drumming steps reached our tree, stopping hesitantly just outside.

We waited tentatively with bated breath, hearts pumping quicker and harder than the on comers footsteps.

I almost choked on my own air as the curious wanderer stepped under the hollow of the tree, creeping steadily towards the hidden door. My breath hitched in my throat and I felt as if I was slowly falling backwards as their soft tread footsteps crept ever closer.

Should this nosey intruder have magic, then we were done for.