Maiden of Moonlight | Tedros Pendragon

Chapter 2.12

" The sheep will spend its entire life fearing the wolf, only to be eaten by the shepherd. "

African Proverb

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Patience was not one of Tedros' strong suits and Sophie-well Filip of Mount Honora-could tell as they waited for a girl to pass by them from their hiding place in a tall, blue oak.

Between the spindly branches and shimmery cobalt leaves, they made out the edges of something hiding in the tree a few feet away from them. The Pendragon squinted harder, his eyes adjusting to the dark, until he saw a shadow...a human shadow...in a sapphire-blue cloak.

" A girl," He sneered.

Sophie-within the burly body of a boy-panicked at the thought of the girl being Agatha. Or worse: Marya, the girl who could bring everything back to normal with one kiss. Tedros would never be hers. She would be a wicked witch who was to never be loved.

The two blondes raced against each other, both wanting to get to the girl first. Tedros got there before Filip, his cheeks scarlet while heaving breaths, his sword raised towards the cornered girl. With gnashed teeth, the prince drew back the hood and confusion took over his snarling features, " Who are you?"

" Yara?" Filip muttered, earning furrowed brows from Tedros, " You know her?"

Fabricating a little white lie, the two tried finding the redhead's white flag, but it was nowhere to be found.

" Aric," The Pendragon breathed after pulling down the neckline of the cloak, watching Yara pant and wheeze, her windpipe cut. " That's his knife mark."

Tedros grew frantic at the fatal injury, pressuring the girl for her flag, but there was no response...Not until she revealed, " I'm...not...Yara."

The two recoiled in surprise as the redhead's face began to change. Her cheeks roughened to ginger stubble, her jaw chiselling and squaring, her long beakish nose refining, her wavy red hair shrinking back into her skull until it was cropped short.

Filip went pale, but Tedros went paler as he spluttered, " T-T-Tristan? But that's impossible-how can-how could-"

" I'm...sorry..." He gasped, back in his boy skin. " Their school...was so...beautiful. And the boys-the boys-were so mean...except you, Tedros...You were my only friend..."

Eyes wet, Tedros couldn't allow himself to utter a word without sobbing. He just stared at his long-time friend, then at Filip in confusion.

" Tristan, we need your flag." Filip strained as the boy continued to try and speak, " She let me stay in the girls' school-she said I could stay as long...as long as I-"

" Who let you stay?" Tedros asked, still in a fog.

" The Dean...as long as I hid it for her...that's why I moved it from under the t-t-table..."

Tristan met Filip's eyes and a weak smile formed on his lips, " It's you."

Sophie's heart imploded.

Tedros was beyond confused as the redhead continued, " The Storian, I...I hid it in your storybook...like she told me to...she knew you'd never look there..."

His blue eyes landed on the Pendragon for one last time and as he took his last breath, the boy Tedros grew up with whispered, " Ma...ry-a. Y-Y-You're...meant to b-be..."

Tristan of Camelot convulsed once there was no more breath to give. He stilled, his heart finally finished. His eyes slowly closed for the final time.

♕