For the Ones We Love (Merlin Fan Fiction)

Chapter Twenty-Four

I woke early enough to make Gwen and myself breakfast.  I figured it was the least I could do seeing as she had fixed me dinner, set clothes out for me, and was letting me stay with her. I was glad to have Gwen as a friend. I was glad that, despite her knowing the power I possessed, she still thought of me as a friend.

Do you regret coming back? Stella asked.

I regret not still being with Mordred.

You humans… She didn’t finish her statement, but I could sense her dryness.

I continued tending to the fire and Stella continued preening her dove feathers. We said no more to each other.

Gwen woke up a few minutes later. “Cleo?” she asked.

“Yeah?” I replied.

“You’re up early.” She sat up in bed, pushing her covers off her body. “And making breakfast?”

I nodded and shrugged at the same time. “I’m used to waking up early.”

Gwen laughed. “Well, thank you, but you really didn’t have to.”

“It’s just breakfast,” I insisted. I set out two bowls, filled them with oatmeal, and sat down in front of my plate.

Gwen filled two cups with water and set them on the table before sitting down herself. “Looks delicious!”

After breakfast, we walked to the castle. I felt eyes on me like I knew I would. Men and women stopped their work to gawk at me as I walked beside Gwen.

It wasn’t long before Gwen noticed and glanced at me. Her face was sympathetic.

I met her look with an evenness I didn’t really know I had. I would not shy away from these people. I would not let their judgment get to me. I was here and they would have to deal with it. We made our way to the castle kitchen, my chin up.

Audrey wasn’t especially happy to see me in her kitchen, though unlike the other townspeople, she had a right to be unhappy with me. I had pretty much just left two years ago after only working a week. With everything else that had happened the day I left, I’m not even sure I officially resigned. I quite possibly just left.

Despite Audrey’s obvious discontentment with me, Gwen was able to reason with her. “Reasoning”, however, meant lowering my pay and increasing my work hours and even so, I found it quite generous of Audrey to let me work for her again.

“Alright,” she said once Gwen left, “Start on the dishes.” Without another word, she turned her back and continued chopping some herb.

The kitchen hadn’t changed much—at all really. Other than a few fresh faces and slightly older utensils, I saw no real difference. I walked to the wash basin. All around it sat towers of newly dirtied dishes.

“That water’s a day old,” a woman behind me said.

I turned. “What?” After I asked, I realized who I was talking to.

“The dish water,” she clarified, “It’s a day old. You should probably get more.”

“Oh,” I murmured. The woman looked much, much older, as if she had aged ten years since I’d last been to Camelot. “I will.” The woman nodded and started to turn, but I stopped her. “How is Gracian?” I asked.

Gracian’s mother looked me in the eye. “He’s well,” was all she said.

I was left with an unwanted feeling in my stomach. It was almost like emptiness, but far too much like remorse. I shouldn’t have come back.

I took two buckets to the well with me and still had to make two trips to have enough water to fill the basin. On the second trip, I saw him—Gracian. He was polishing floor tiles. I thought of how he never would have polished floor tiles two years ago. I wondered at what point he’d changed.

After watching him a second, I moved on. I was honestly afraid. Of what, I wasn’t exactly sure. On my way back, though he saw me. Our eyes met for only a few moments before he stood and disappeared down the hall.

“Gracian!” I yelled. I dropped my buckets, running after him. “Gracian, wait! I’m sorry!”

We raced through the ground level of the castle, passing walls I hadn’t seen in years, but I didn’t pay attention. I was focused on Gracian. Unfortunately, I wasn’t gaining on him. “Gracian!” I yelled once last time before losing him. I had reached a dead end and he was nowhere in sight.

I groaned.

“Looking for someone?”

I swung around. Before me stood a tall man; muscular and chainmail-clad. His red cape complemented his bright green eyes. Behind him stood three other knights.

I shifted. “No.”

“So you were just running through the castle halls for no reason?”

I met his eye. “Do I need a reason?”

“People usually do.”

Two of the other knights slowly stepped forward. One, I noticed was considerably shorter than most knights I’d met and then other had cleanly cut red hair. 

“I’ve never seen you before,” the short one said. “Are you new?”

Green Eyes turned to the shorter knight. “Come on, Elric! Don’t you remember her? She’s the witch who came and fled a few years ago. She was William’s girl.”

“I’m not a witch,” I hissed. The mention of William hurt, but I decided to ignore it.

“Oh don’t lie to us sweetheart,” said the redhead. “Everyone in Camelot knows it’s true. Even your sweetheart.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I tried to walk around the party, but the man with green eyes sidestepped, blocking me. In that moment, I caught sight of the fourth knight’s face. Seeing him hurt more than the mention of him. I opened my mouth to whisper his name, but I was cut off.

The knight named Elric smirked. “She doesn’t know what you’re talking about, Col.” He turned to William. “Do you think she means she doesn’t know who you’re talking about?” Though his words seemed directed to the redhead—Col, they were truly directed at William. “William, are you that forgettable?”

“William,” I finally murmured. His eyes were locked on me, not paying attention to anything the knights were saying. I knew he couldn’t have heard me, but I wondered if he knew I said his name.

“Do you still have feelings for her, William?” Green Eyes asked.  “I know you have a knew girl, but this one’s quite a pretty thing—even if she is a witch.” He his hand out toward me.

“Don’t touch me,” I warned.

“What are you going to do?” he asked. “Magic me to death?” He continued to reach out.

I stepped back. “I said don’t touch me.”

“Abraham,” Col said. “That’s enough.”

Abraham chuckled and let his hand down. “I’ll keep my eye on you, witch.” He stepped aside, allowing me to pass and I did. I didn’t look at William, but I felt his eyes on me.