Camelot

Nineteen - The Two Faces of Magic

Nineteen – The Two Faces of Magic

The decorated and royal carriage I was in swayed persistently as it drove across the uneven ground towards Ganden. The smell of forest air was sweet and fresh and the sounds of birds were the only thing that disrupted the constant hoof-beats of the horses pulling the carriage.

It still felt foreign to be travelling to somewhere like Ganden so formally. My initial plan had been to travel on horse with Jensen, but Arthur had insisted I take a whole party with me. I did not doubt that it was due to the fact that he didn't want me alone again, where I could easily take off.

Jensen sat across from me in the spacious carriage, humming whilst her eyes drifted off into space. If we came across trouble I could easily count on her to protect me and since she was my servant it was perfect cover.

The carriage began to slow ever so slightly as we reached a spur in the road. This spur had two tracks – one continuing on to Warrendor and other cities and another leading to the quaint town of Ganden, where Madeline had her position as Lady.

I had only stayed in Camelot for a week before getting word from Leith and Madeline – who had returned home the day after they arrived – that the date of their wedding was set. It had surprised me that they had arranged things so quickly and I wasn't sure that everything would be sorted. Then again, whenever things with Madeline were involved, they weren't done in half measures.

"I have heard that Ganden is quite a beautiful city," Jensen said, snapping out of her daze and smiling widely.

"Beautiful is not a word I would use to describe Ganden," I laughed. "It is more... magical. It was one of the reasons why I positioned Madeline there, it suits her well."

Almost on queue the dull greenery of the forest started to change into something more mystical. The green of the trees seemed to lighten and glow and beautiful wildflowers littered the landscape. Jensen gasped as she noticed the scenery and continued to make awed noises as we drove on.

Madeline stood on the stone steps of her castle as we drove into the aged citadel. Like Warrendor, the wardens of each smaller city had a castle. These castles however, were newer and a lot smaller. The castle Madeline resided in was the second oldest after mine and made from magnificent grey stone, with vines of ivy growing up the sides and decorating the castle.

Madeline was donned in a shimmering metallic-like dress, with long flowing sleeves and a decorated bodice. No matter how many times I saw Madeline in a dress, it was still foreign to me. Her hair was pulled into a tight braid which fell down the side of her head and as my carriage slowed in front of her she began moving towards us, her dress creating the false illusion that she was floating.

"Now this is a bit extravagant," she laughed as one of the Camelot knights helped me out of the carriage. She quickly took me into her arms and hugged me tight, still laughing in amusement.

"Arthur insisted," I mumbled, frowning slightly and smoothing off the dress I was in that had become somewhat creased over the journey here.

"He probably doesn't want you running off again," called a familiar voice from behind.

I turned towards the voice to see Leith sitting atop his old grey horse, a crooked smile on his face. He dismounted and walked towards me, holding me almost as tightly as Madeline did.

Once he had parted I turned towards the direction he had come from and noticed a band of men on their own horses behind him, all donned in hunting clothes and brandishing spears or crossbows. Now that was odd.

"Have you been hunting Leith?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

As long as I'd known Leith, he'd never been into hunting. Whenever I had wanted to go on a hunting trip he'd always sent me off with some other knight or just Madeline alone. Leith, unlike many others in our realm didn't see the enjoyment in hunting things. I wondered how that was going with Madeline, who enjoyed hunting things just as much as she enjoyed fighting. They were almost completely opposite.