Magical Encounters

Chapter 5

"My father was not only a Saracen Knight, he was also a respected commander in the Caliph's army, as well as being his chief military adviser. I was around your age at that time. This was during the war between Camelot and my home, before our peace treaty.

With the Caliph and his fellow advisers, my father would discuss strategy after strategy, tactic after tactic. If we were going to defeat Camelot we needed a plan. From foot soldiers to archers to bravery and discipline, King Arthur's men matched us in everything; the only advantage we could possibly employ was the element of surprise.

I was young, but my father believed it necessary for me to know all that goes on before, during and after battle. I was there when a plan was finally agreed on. At the dead of night we would storm the castle.

There was no way they would see us coming, every loose end was tied. There were no loopholes. We simply could not lose. After one last drill, orders were given and we set out for Camelot at such an hour that even the bats would not be out.

It is not easy for an entire army to move stealthily but we did. We were just a little way from our destination when we decided to rest a while; it was not like Camelot was going anywhere. That decision was our downfall I suppose.

In the blink of an eye, we were surrounded by knights and soldiers, all from Camelot. We had been betrayed but by whom? To this day we do not know. Suddenly we were surrounded by men on chestnut horses, all bearing that red insignia of the dragon. If there was any doubt as to what was happening, that at least made it clear.

They so far outmatched our measly group, it really was laughable. How they had mustered up so many men....? " Farid trailed off, frowning, dark brows meshed in temporary consternation. Clara looked at him expectantly.

"Many battles had been fought before" he said by by way of explanation, "So many had been lost and the few who remained were not eager to join the fight. For them to have had so many people, without wounds, I still do not understand"

It must have been Merlin's magic Clara thought, he cured the injured and somehow convinced them to go back into the battle. But she said nothing of her thoughts to the boy beside her.

" King Arthur was at the front of his ranks. Riding a pure white stallion, he went up to my father, who was on his Arab mare. I knew he was asking him to surrender. The Commander surveyed what would soon become our battlefield and opened his mouth to speak. The choice was made for him when some undisciplined men from both sides broke ranks. It was a lost cause. We knew that before it even started but there was no going back.

"What happened?" she asked quietly.

"We fought as well as we could but it was of no use. A bloodier battle I have not yet witnessed. You could not really be called a battle, it was.... a massacre. Dead bodies everywhere, men halved, guts strewn everywhere..." He stopped at the sight of her face.

"Sorry, I forgot whom I was speaking to. Anyway, the main thing was we were badly defeated and my father and I taken captive. Made to serve the very man who killed our comrades" Farid said bitterly.

Clara felt pity for him but doubted her good wishes would mean anything to him."Thank you for telling me" She said instead.

"How could I not?" He said dryly "You are more persistent than drought in a desert" She decided to take that as a compliment, “I still don't understand how your father changed from prisoner to Knight".

"I think" He looked past her, "that is a tale for another time." She glanced behind her and saw Anne walking towards them.

"Sir“ Annie curtsied to Farid "I'm sorry but Miss Clara has been called" He acknowledged her with a nod. I've never heard her sound so much like a servant before Clara thought."Miss Clara?" She inquired as they walked across castle grounds.

"You’re the prince's maidservant now, higher up than the rest of us" ,her tone was slightly envious.

Annie didn't know about her real job, neither did she know about the magic, at least not anymore. To keep the secret safe Merlin had somehow wiped the memory from Lilly and Annie's minds. He had left Gwen's for some reason she didn't know.

"So who called me?" she changed the subject.

"Leo. Apparently there's someone here to see you".

"Who?”

She shrugged. They were in the hall already when she saw Leo talking to a short man with fair hair, big ears and a weathered face. His brown eyes were permanently crinkled like he'd burst out laughing any minute now. Leo spotted her first

"Finally you’re here!" he exclaimed. The short man turned his crinkled eyes on her.

"Hello Clara" Rolf said.

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 A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, horrible connection, exams, e.t.c e.t.c e.t.c :D

Feel free to point out any grammatical errors...oh and vote too! See ya

-Nk