A Warrior At Heart (Arthur Pendragon x oc)

7

The next morning, everyone woke up and got ready in silence, anxiousness coursing through everyone, especially Arthur, who was terrified of letting everyone down. He took of out of the little house before breakfast wanting to get away for a bit to think and compose himself before the fight; Adira, noticing he hadn't eaten yet, decided to go find him and take him food.

She found him leaning against a tree not far into the woods,

"Arthur," she called getting his attention "my mother made you some food."

"Thanks" She gave it to him and began to walk away only just hearing him mutter "I think"

Turning around with a somewhat disappointed look on her face she said,

"food is scarce for us here, please don't turn your nose up at it"

He looked at her with a look of regret as he realised what he'd been doing,

"You're right, I'm sorry. And I also wanted to say thank you for speaking up about the women fighting, we really are going to need all the hope we can get"

"We'll be fine, Arthur"

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I believe in you. You are an amazing leader; you are the one who has inspired hope into all of these people, you will lead us to victory today, but only if you believe in yourself too."

"Thank you. You seem to have a surprising amount of faith in a man you just met"

"I can't explain why, but it feels like we've known each other longer than just a few days. Maybe it's because I've read about you in merlin's letters for months" she explained

"I dread to think what he says if he writes about me that much" Arthur said jokingly.

Adira laughed, the most angelic sound Arthur has ever heard, and said with a smirk "a sister never tells" making him laugh too as they said goodbye and she left him to himself; however, she was all he could think about.

Slightly later in the day, everyone was back in the house preparing themselves. Arthur and merlin helping each other, anxiety radiating off of merlin.

"How is Adira so calm when everyone else looks like they're about to be walking to their deaths" Arthur asked merlin quietly so no one could overhear.

"Because she has never been afraid of death. Obviously she doesn't want to die, but in her mind, if she dies fighting for what's right, then she will die happy. Although she is anxious right now, it's not obvious like mine but I can see it, but it's not for herself. She's anxious because her friends and family are fighting too." Merlin explained, Arthur hanging on to every word about Adira, wondering if she will ever cease to amaze him.

"The world could use more people like her, she's already a huge inspiration to this village, I can see it in everyone's eyes when she talks" Arthur said, before realising they'd been talking about Adira for a while now, knowing he should probably change the subject he said

"Are you ready?"

"My throats dry"

"Me too". He took a step back and offered a hand out to merlin for him to shake, "It's been an honour"

Not long after that, Morgana rushed in,

"Arthur, they've crossed the river!"

Hearing that, everyone rushed outside and immediately began finishing up the last-minute touches of their plan, Arthur working his way around everyone, checking they were ready and wishing them good look.

When he got to Adira, he saw what merlin mentioned previously, he could see the slightest trace of worry in her eyes not that he was close enough.

"Should I even try to convince you to put some armour on? Or would I be wasting my time?" he asked her with a slight teasing tone in his voice, making her smirk. She was wearing a white linen shirt, tight black trousers, and her new sword hanging at her waist.