Pendragon's Blood

Part 6 - A Mysterious Madam

After a fruitless search in that corner of the Camelot border, we returned home very tired, yet rejuvenated. Each of us felt the beginning of a special bond between the three of us. I slipped into Gwen and Arthur's chambers to help them get ready for bed, and as Arthur left to find Gwen some ointments for a cut that she fabricated, the Queen pulled me aside.

"Did you find anything?" she asked anxiously, wringing her hands. "Anything about Excalibur's scabbard?"

I shook my head apologetically. "No, your highness. Nothing yet – but this was our first day, remember? We still have plenty of time to find it."

Gwen grabbed my arm. "But that's just it, Meadow! We don't have much time. Arthur is talking about going into battle at the end of the month, which is only one and a half weeks away from now. He can't go into battle without the protection of the scabbard!"

The second Arthur stepped back into the room, Gwenevere's face broke into a beaming smile, no longer the distraught queen I just talked to seconds before. Arthur wrapped her into his arms and helped her into bed. I took that as my cue to leave.

With exhaustion leaving me almost senseless, I shucked off my boots and dress and with tired hands I slipped a thin nightgown over my head. I climbed into bed and unclipped my long thick hair from its simple up-do and let it fall loose and free down my back. Stifling back a yawn, I leaned back into my pillows and drifted to sleep.

♞♘♞♘♞♘♞

I'll never know what woke me up in the first place, but suddenly I was wide awake. It was still pitch black in the room, but I knew in my gut that something was off. My eyes scanned the room the best they could, and landed near the front of the chamber-

-and my heart leaped into my throat when I noticed the door was wide open.

I immediately sat up, suppressing a cry of fear. I rolled onto my knees and peered around the corner of the room, hoping and not-hoping at the same time to see the intruder.

Hands suddenly wrapped around my waist, pulling me over the side of the bed and I landed with a thud on someones lap. I opened my mouth to scream but it was cut off by hands clamping over it. I bucked and wriggled around, turning my head in an attempt to try and get free, but the hands tightened around me.

A warm gust of breath went past my ear, making me shudder. "Meadow, it's okay. It's just me." Mordred whispered softly. I stared back at him, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. He was shirtless, but was armed with his sword and a dagger that hung from a belt around his waist.

I raised my hand and shoved him away from my face. "What are you doing here, Mordred?" I hissed quietly, not holding back the irritation and anger that edged into my voice as I readjusted my nightgown straps to make it less revealing.

"Shh!" Mordred hushed, not seeming to notice my discomfort and not taking his hands away from my waist. "I'm not the only one in here, Meadow."

"What?" I asked, equally quiet, feeling my heart leap into my throat.

"Someone else entered the room," he answered lowly, adjusting my weight in his lap in a more comfortable position. "It might be the thief aiming to make sure you won't get in his way again."

Chills ran up and down my spin at that, and I forced my breath to stay even and quiet. "Do you have any idea on who it is?" I whispered.

Mordred shook his head. "None whatsoever." He held a finger to his lips and I stayed silent. We watched and waited. Finally, I heard a sound coming from the direction of the door. I felt Mordred tense beneath me, and his arms tightened more around my waist almost imperceptibly, but I still noticed it. A shadow emerging from my closet caught my attention and I automatically shrank back further into Mordred's hold, which made one of the skimpy straps on my shoulders slip off. I felt his breath on my ear and bare shoulder as he pulled me tighter against him, his head rested in the space between the crook of my neck, and I felt Mordred's right hand stray over to the hilt of his sword.