The Call of Camelot

Chapter 13 - Amongst a sea of Purple Heather

At some point in our youth we all go through a rebellious phase.

Mine was when I was 15, when I abandoned flowery summer dresses and dainty heels, in favour of thick eyeliner, band t shirts and a desire to dye my hair lipstick red, which by the way, only makes someone whose already a redhead go carrot top ginger, I wouldn't recommend it!

Another part of my rebellious phase had been to start dating my school's number one "bad boy" and join him for a midnight rendezvous to vandalise our school sports hall and all its equipment. We'd been caught, naturally, and my boyfriend (who quickly became my ex boyfriend) was expelled and I, as a first time offender, got away with detention and a serious telling off from my headmaster, and my parents.

I still remember how angry they'd all been with me, how awful I'd felt after their telling off. Well, that was nothing compared to what Arthur had waiting for me once Mordred and I arrived back at Camelot!

Until then I'd never seen the shade of a man's skin physically change before my eyes, but as Arthur had yelled at me he'd gone from pink, to red, to purple and back so furious was his rage.

He threw every accusation at me, from fool, to traitor, to harlot (not sure why I'd got that one!) but as soon as Mordred mentioned that I'd reacted to some form of magic in the air, Arthur's whole demeanor changed, and suddenly I was back in favour.

Where minutes ago he'd been yelling at me so loud that I'd been showered in his spit, I was now being offered a goblet of wine and instructed to restart my magic lessons with Merlin as quickly as possible.

I had done the polite thing and smiled and nodded while the King spoke of the importance of keeping me safe, and how vital my magic supposedly was to Camelot, but he did so without mentioning why.

I knew that if I was to learn magic for the sole purpose of protecting Camelot from the Banduri then it would be pointless, Merlin had magic far superior than anything I was told I was capable of, so why was me learning spells and charms so important to this Kingdom?

I'd left the Great Hall some time later, my mind still abuzz with unanswered questions and in shock from the day's events, I was eager to return to my room, have something to eat and fall into a deep sleep that hopefully no one would wake me from.

I'd need to have a word with Elin about the meaning of "sleeping in"

My dinner that evening was another plate of warm meats and freshly baked bread, all of which I ate with gusto, becoming ravenous at the first sign of food, washed down with more than one goblet of wine.

With a full belly and sleepy eyes I was grateful when Elin left me for the evening so I could settle down into what I hoped was going to be an easy sleep. But no sooner had Elin left than I was joined by someone new

Merlin.

I'd noticed that while I'd been disciplined by the King, his most trusted adviser had watched, kept silent and avoided my eye. I'd presumed his awkwardness had been due to our argument in the courtyard earlier in the day, so I was surprised to now find him in my bedroom!

"Cara you deserve an apology"

"And I owe you one as well" I confessed, my forgiving mood clearly coming as quite a shock to Merlin whose mouth gaped open in surprise. Once my apology had soaked in the two of us smiled in unison, though his words still stung, I had enough on my plate right now without adding 'fighting with Merlin' to my list.

"It was Laura" I blurted as Merlin turned to leave my room "she's the one who was watching us, I just thought you should know"

The sorcerer had gone rigid, frozen in complete silence, though his balled up fists betrayed his true emotion. After a few moments, where I stood beside my bed wondering whether I should actually say anything to get Merlin moving again, he took a deep breath and turned back to me with a serene look of calm, as though he hadn't just been given shocking news.