Ribbons

It's been three days since I woke up from the dragon's hushed, toxic words. The days are quickly dwindling down, and I can feel the tension in the air every time I wake. Each morning I get dressed with Edgar's help then I go to breakfast with Merlin. I can't help but notice how the tension seems to get worse every morning as I sit with Aurelius, who does not express it facially, but emanates it from his bodily presence. I can tell Uther feels it as well, but he tries to push it away by constantly turning his attention to Igraine and speaking of wedding matters at every meal time. I can now understand the nausea Aurelius spoke of before.

After breakfast, Aurelius and I will then usually go for walks together to get things for Merlin, and I think it helps Aurelius. His eyes will get a little brighter and he smiles a little more, yet, I sometimes think it would be helpful for Aurelius to talk things through, but all he ever speaks of is little things: the way the birds sound or how the wind is blowing that day. His voice and words are like bits of beauty, but it is as if he is hiding behind his own beautiful world, a world he knows he cannot hold on to.

We headed back to Merlin with a basket of ribbons, which Merlin uses to tie around people arm's and legs to reduce blood flow.

"We come, baring tidings of beautiful ribbons to pretty your hair with." Aurelius announced as we entered Merlin's room.

"Very funny, Aurelius. Set them over there." Merlin pointed to a shelf as he concentrated on a purple colored mixture that bubbled a little in front of him.

I walked closer to Merlin to get a better look at the purple filled bottle, and was assaulted by a most wretched smell. "Oh, that's awful! What are you doing, Merlin?" I pinched my nose together, trying to keep myself from gagging, my eyes already starting to water.

"It's a new remedy to help with coughs." He looked up at me and smiled, and I was certain I would never get a cough. Never. Ever.

"Can we help you with anything else?" Aurelius asked.

Merlin set his things down. "Ah, yes, come here I need to see how your shoulder is getting a long."

Aurelius sat on a cot and pulled his forest green shirt over his head, causing his hair to stick up randomly like when I first met him.

Merlin poured some clear liquid on a cloth and touched it to the scar that was starting to form around the wound, and starting rotating the cloth in small circles to clean the area. "I'd say this is healed up pretty well. I do not think it will open up now... unless one gets himself stabbed again." Merlin gave Aurelius a knowing look and Aurelius simply shrugged. "Well, I am quite a good physician if I do say so myself." Merlin disposed of the cloth and put a thin coat of his healing paste and then helped Aurelius put his shirt back on. "I would not be objected to you returning to training, just don't let your men strike at your shoulder. Does that sound fair?"

"Yes, of course. You know, I thought, being a king and all, I could do what I want anyway." Aurelius huffed.

Merlin patted Aurelius' head. "Perhaps, but a wise king always listens to his friend." He announced. "Fia, walk with Aurelius and make sure he listens to his doctor, will you? I need to make a house call, so I am not certain when I will return."

"Of course, brother. See to it you make them well." I said.

"Always do." He smiled, with something odd behind his eyes.

Garden Talk

We walked out amongst the garden's of the castle. The wind seemed to tiptoe through the air, carrying soft murmuring from the bustle of town-square as it went. We walked slowly, allowing all the different scents from the different flowers to reach our senses. Aurelius made no sound, not even his foot steps would give him away. In the midst of all the flowers I could not even make out his scent, which usually smelled like a musky tree right after a rain storm. Most may not appreciate its smell, but it reminds me of nature, that Aurelius is grounded and strong.

Aurelius sat on a stone bench next to a rose bush with roses that have yet to bloom. He made no motion to me, but simply stared off into the distance. He seemed very heavy.

I sat next to him and gazed at his sullen posture. "Does something trouble you, Ari?"

A smile broke across his face and he looked over at me. "Did you just call me Ari?" He asked. I nodded. He paused for a minute and gazed again towards the trees of the forest. "I feel very troubled, but I will not burden you with such things." He straightened up, losing his sense of brooding for simple seriousness. "You should know I will leave in a week's time. The saxons are approaching, just as we have predicted, and will reach the border within a week or so. I suppose I may feel troubled that I have been scolded for training, but Merlin knows how necessary it is, I can't just sit here!" He stopped himself and took a deep breath. "Sorry, that was irreverent of me." He gave me a half-smile, filled with so much sorrow I thought it to be contagious.

"Do not fret, you are the strongest and bravest man I know. The saxons will flee the moment they lay eyes upon you, I am sure of it."

Aurelius gave a real smile that time. "You do know how to cheer someone up." He looked away again. "Hmm. I suppose if I must rest, I shall not mind spending that time with you. You really are quite fascinating." He chuckled. "Plus I do not have to sit through hours of unnecessary details like I do when I speak with Merlin, or that rabbit friend of his... what was his name? Edger? He really needs to be more careful, if a servant sees him no one will be able to protect that oddly dressed rabbit." My eyebrows furrowed at his words. "I met him when I visited you yesterday, my how he goes on.... But as I was saying, about others finding him, it really would not be good. Magic may not be punished like it is in most places, but a talking rabbit would not go over well with the people. I have no doubt they would either go after your brother or Edgar himself." Aurelius shook his head, "Enough about me, I would like to hear about you. I have decided to learn as much about you as I can before I depart."

I did not know what to say to this man. It would seem Merlin has told him a lot, so surely I could trust him by now. After all, he saved my life, he deserves to at least know the person he saved. Yet, there was something I knew well, and that was that he was keeping something from me, but what it was I haven't the slightest clue. You could just see it in his eyes, the way they seemed downcast, even when he smiled.

"So, tell me miss Fia, what kind of things do you adore?"

What did I adore? "The way the earth smells after it rains." I said, it being the first thing to come to mind.

"Ah, so you like the smell of earth after it rains, but not the rain itself?" He asked.

I looked at him for a moment, trying to put my thoughts together of what I know of myself. "The rain makes me weak, therefore it is unfriendly to me. Yet, sometimes, I wish to dance in it, and do not even know how to dance." I said, a strange kind of smile crossing my lips.

Aurelius smiled. "Tell me something else."

"I do not care much for dragons..." I started slowly. "I feel they haunt me, in the woods and in my dreams.... I do not understand what it is they want, and my brother wishes to protect them. I do not care much for dragons, and I do not think they care much for me."

"Yes, I do not think they care much for you, not in the way everything and everyone should."He murmured.

Doctor's Orders

I rested for a while under Merlin's watch. Occasionally Edger would come out to lecture me about something, but Merlin always sent him back to the room. We never knew when a servant would come in and did not want evil rumors to be spread about us. I eventually got so bored I started reading merlin's book of herbs, non of it sticking of course, yet it was slightly more interesting than staring at the stone ceiling. After I got about twenty pages into the book a knock came upon Merlin's door.

"Come in." Merlin chimed.

Aurelius came striding in, a smile spreading across his face as he glanced my way. "Well, look who finally woke up." Aurelius came over to me and sate near my feet. "I thought for sure you would never awake. Things were just starting to settle down." He smirked at me and I felt a slight blush. "Here, I got this for you." Aurelius handed me a brown packed wrapped in string. I ripped away and the paper and found a red cloak. "Your purple one was kind of ruined, so I got you this red one, it goes better with my kingdom anyway." He winked.

I smiled at him. "Thank you, I am very grateful."

"Aurelius..." Merlin's tone was a bit worrisome. "How is your wound, you haven't gone and opened it again, have you?" Merlin walked to Aurelius, pointing at the spot where Aurelius had been injured that night I treated him. "How many times must I patch you up for the same thing? Surely your training can wait a day or two."Merlin prepared a paste for Aurelius while Aurelius removed his dark blue tunic.

"You know I cannot, Merlin. The Saxon's could be heading for us right now, I cannot let myself weaken." The cut on Aurelius' shoulder had opened and was oozing slightly. I also noticed that he had a cut going from his right eyebrow to his cheek bone, practically healed from the looks of it.

Merlin began to rub medicine into Aurelius' wound, causing Aurelius to wince a little. "Well, as your doctor I refuse to let you train anymore today or tomorrow." Merlin's voice was harsh and his stare solemn. "It's risky enough going to war with perfect health, going with a festering wound is not the smartest idea."

"Merlin..." Aurelius had a groan to his voice. "What am I to do while my men train then? Surely you cannot expect me to entertain my brother's betrothed for hours. You know I do not care for wedding talk."

"Wedding talk?" I asked.

Aurelius looked at me, tiredness in his eyes. "Uther is to be married to lady Igraine. I cannot express how many painfully hokey dinner conversations and lunch conversations I've had to suffer through." He shook his head, as if it was the worst thing in the world. "I am happy for them, but I simply wish I did not have to talk about how happy I must be for them all the time."

Merlin sighed. "Yes, I find your feelings very agreeable. Why don't you take Fia for a walk while I treat my other patients. She should start getting use to walking around before she becomes sloth-like."

The Calm After The Storm

I awoke a day or two later, my mind fuzzy with thoughts of rain and dragons. Every time I tried to make sense of what happened everything would grow foggy and abstract, as if the rain was caused by the mouth of the dragon, or that the dragon was not actually a dragon. I could not find sense, and sleep pulled me back anytime I tried to find it. Chaos, destruction, and rain... that's all that rallied my being in those long hours of sleep and nightmares.

Then there was a dream, at least I thought it to be a dream. I was in the forest once more, trying to find my sense, when I heard something large moving next to me. Yellow eyes struck my soul and the dragon reached out as if to eat me, and words came from his mouth in the form of a putrid stench. "Your efforts are worthless, you cannot save what you wish to save, and surely you'll be left with only a grave. Every time an answer you seek, another falls and another grows week, but all will die... that is the rule of your magic eye."

I bolted upright from my sleeping position on one of Merlin's cots, retching at the memory of that dreadful smell. My breath came in gasps and my head was pounding, my surroundings appeared fuzzy, as if they were not really my surroundings, and I thought for a moment that the dragon would come to break down the room.

"Fia!" Merlin was at my side, grabbing my arm to check my pulse. "You should not have sat up so quickly, how are you feeling?"

"My head hurts." I muttered, reaching my hand up to my right temple. My fingers found the rough texture of a bandage that was wrapped around my head.

Merlin reached up and undid the bandage slowly. "You slammed against that rock pretty hard, we were worried you had a severe concussion that couldn't be fixed, but i'd say you're doing quite well." Merlin took a cloth to my head and dabbed at it gently. "You look much better." Merlin smiled at me, great dark circles under his eyes and a mess of hair told of his lack of sleep.

I laid back down, tired already from sitting up. "What happened?" I asked. "I can't remember."

"Well, when Aurelius came back in from his little match, he came to speak with me for a bit, as he usual does. After a while we heard the sound of thunder and Edgar came bursting out of the room, scaring Aurelius quite a bit, which I found humorous, and explained that since you are of a fire magic rain is very dangerous and could drain you until you were unable to move. Aurelius then started yelling at me for not knowing such things and we left to find you. Aurelius grabbed his bow and arrows in case of a wolf, whatever that meant, and we searched for you until we found you slammed against the rock." Merlin gave me a look which made me feel very young and ignorant. "You should have been more careful, Fia. I did not like that your carelessness caused a dragon's death."

"Are you kidding me? That thing was going to kill me and you're upset that I was a victim?"

Merlin shook his head, "No, that is not what I am saying. You were careless and wandered into the dragon's home, and dragons are territorial creatures and it was simply trying to survive, which would have just been easier if you had just come back. There are very few dragons left, and I fear their race, while given a bad reputation, will be killed out for simply being protective." I thought about the weird feeling I had after Aurelius had killed that wolf, oddly similar to the words of Merlin. "We are not human, Fia, and I expect you to act as such. Our people do not kill out of fear, and we certainly do not walk into situations like you did. I am simply grateful you survived, do not take me wrong, but you are young and also need to be educated on such things." Merlin turned his gaze downward, his eyes heavier than I have ever seen them. "Those are the kinds of things mother and father would have told you, had they have been here. I am sorry if they sound brash, I did pretty much the same at your age. Looking back I feel i'd do it again if it only meant hearing their voices... When our people turned into a people of silence I thought I would never hear them talk again... and I suppose now I never will."

I sat up slowly and rested a hand on Merlin's arm. "We will save them, Merlin. It is our destiny." The haunting words of the dragon jumped up in my mind, but I pushed them away. I knew my destiny, a dream-dragon simply would not tell me otherwise.

Herb Gathering

I wondered around the nearby forest, collecting some red clover and agrimony. The birds chirped eagerly to one another across the trees and a faint wind stirred some leaves about the woods. I followed along a small stream that led through the trees in a serpentine pattern, finding more herbs growing close to it's nourishing waters. Suddenly there was a sound of rolling thunder, silencing the sounds of the critters of the forest. I looked up, noticing for the first time that dark clouds had taken place of the blue sky. I had wandered quite far from the castle, but I figured I could find a little more red clover before I headed back. I felt light drops of cold rain as I wandered by a cave, where a lot of red cover was growing outside of its entryway.

I turned to head back when a great downpour started. I juggled with the idea of just heading back in the rain, but thought best to try to wait it out, being several minutes out and suddenly feeling tired. I took cover in the opening of the cave, watching the rain fall in the dirt, making mud. I felt even more tired watching the rain, and felt very cold from the water that tried to drench my cloak. The darkness and dampness of the cave seemed to make me feel even weaker so I back up from the entry to lean against the wall. In my attempt, I tripped over something that was lying in the middle of the cave, causing myself to fall backwards and drop my basket. I landed sitting down, but my feet still on top of whatever it was I tripped over. I reached my hand forward to feel it and was surprised by how cold and oddly textured it was. It reminded me of a kind of snakeskin, but harder. Suddenly there was a warmness against my ear and neck. I turned and saw the glow of yellow eyes gleaming from the dark. The darkness moved and shifted into the light, revealing a large dragon with a low grumble in its throat. It opened its mouth and its long, yellow-tinted, sharp teeth gleamed in the dark and the cave filled with the scent of rotted flesh.

The dragon let out a shrill roar that I felt certain made my ears bleed. I jumped up and started running, wishing this dragon was, in fact, a wolf. It followed after me, shrieking awful sounds of terror. I did not know where I was going, only that I had to run. I tried to fit through tight spaces between trees, but no matter what I tried the giant beast ran through it all. In a sad attempt at escaping, I made my way to a tightly wound group of shrubbery that hid behind two trees, hoping I could maybe hide from my pursuer. When I reached it I jumped over the base of the trees, which grew close to each other, but was jerked back by my cloak getting caught on a protruding branch. The dragon caught up within the second, knocking the tree over and sending me flying with it. I landed away from the tree, my cloak ripping away from me. I tried to get up, but with each second I felt weaker and weaker. My mind grew foggy and the dragon became a blur of angry, screaming, blackness.

I desperately tried to think of a spell Merlin might have taught me that would help, but nothing came to mind. The dragon loomed over me and opened its mouth in a putrid greeting. I took a deep breath, thinking it would be my last, before I saw an arrow shoot straight into the dragon's throat. The dragon thrashed about, tossing its head side to side, and smashing trees and boulders. Suddenly Merlin was at my side saying something to me, but I couldn't understand anything he was saying. I looked back to the dragon and saw Aurelius standing in front of the dragon, wielding his sword, bow and arrows lying at his feet. I felt Merlin trying to pick me up, and still trying to talk to me as well as I felt myself say, "At least it wasn't a wolf" before everything went dark and silent.

Lady Igraine

I headed out the back way of the castle, donning my purple cloak for warmth, and found Uther and Aurelius still battling it out. It must have been at least ten minutes I listened to Merlin go on, they both must have great stamina. They were fighting out in an empty arena bordered by wooden posts, similar to that of a farmer's barrier for his creatures. I sat my basket down and leaned against the fence, watching them fight at a fairly decent distant.

Simply by watching them you could tell they were brothers who loved one another. It reminded me of how young boys play with their wooden swords, innocent and fun. The two of them had a constanct smile on their face and poked fun at one another, just as they had before. They were both moving fairly slow, granted it's probably due to the continual fighting, and you could see the sweat jumping from their skin with each swing of their blade. They went on like this for probably five more minutes until Uther unarmed Aurelius and pointed his sword at him.

"You're getting older, brother, I would be more careful if I were you." Uther's grin just about reached from one ear to the other. Aurelius raised his hands up to his shoulders as if in defeat.

"You are quick to judge, but I have not quite waved the flag yet." Aurelius then performed a leg-sweep, casting Uther down at his back, causing him to lose his sword. Aurelius snatched the sword as it flew up and pointed it at Uther's chest. "Now, I believe I am the winner."

Uther sighed. "I'll beat you one day, you just wait." Uther took hold of Aurelius' outstretched hand and allowed his brother to help him up.

Then there was a sound of clapping and Uther's eyes grew large as a lady in a lovely blue dress walked towards the brothers. She smiled at the two, her lips a vibrant coral color and her hair falling down in brown ringlets. She was the essence of beauty.

"Lady, Igraine!" Uther called, and swiftly moved to her. "To what do we owe this pleasure?" Uther took her hand and kissed it, as many do with royalty.

"Please, Uther, you need not treat me so formally. I am here to announce my husband's death. Our kingdom has been desecrated." Her words sounded sad, but the way she looked at Uther almost seemed like happiness. Strange how humans can feel so many emotions at once.

"King Gorlois was no great friend of ours, this is widely known." Aurelius said, eyeing Igraine oddly. "I see not why you feel need to bring us such news."

"I mean not to be rude, sire, but I did not bring such news for your benefit." She gazed upon Uther. "I thought Uther may find it... joyous in some way."

Uther took hold of Igraine's hands. "Oh, you know I do." He smiled greatly. "Come, you must be tired from your journey, you can rest inside."

Igraine nodded and then they were gone. Aurelius walked a bit behind them, stopping a short distance from me, an odd expression on his face.

"Aurelius," I began, "What was all of that about?"

Aurelius' eyebrows were furrowed. "I thought nothing of it before... until now. Gorlois use to be a good friend of ours, but through circumstances became very distrusted. Uther use to spend a lot of time in their kingdom, I never thought Igraine would have been the reason. No doubt she is beautiful, but she was married. I suppose that did not stop them from falling in love. I believe with Gorlois now dead Igraine feels she can finally be with Uther." He looked over at me and his expression softened. "Why, miss Fia, are you out an errands?"

I gasped. "I almost forgot! Merlin will be wondering where I am." I stood up straight and grabbed my basket off of the ground. "You are a very talented fighter, Aurelius. I enjoyed watching you and your brother." I mentioned, wanting to leave him with some kind words.

Aurelius leaned forward on the fence. "I did not know I had an audience, I may have made it more enjoyable." He showed off his half-smile.

"How is your shoulder faring?" I asked. "You didn't hurt it did you?"

"It's better than ever." He said, standing up straight and rotating his shoulder. "I should come to you more often."

I looked at him for a moment.

"I mean, for medicinal purposes..." He scratched his head and cleared his throat. "What are you supposed to be doing, exactly?"

"Oh, right! I have to go gather some herbs and things, I should not be bothering you." I turned and began walking off.

"Well, if any wolves appear just call!" he yelled as I walked away. I turned to see him smirking a little.

Wolves. I laugh in the face of wolves! Ha!

Breakfast Talk

Aurelius cleared his throat. "The bucket would be in my room, Fia tended to me when I returned with a  bit of a scrape."

"Oh, I see..." Merlin said, a bit befuddled. "You should have had me take a look, sire."

"Now, Merlin, no need to get jealous, I simply did not want to wake you." Aurelius took a bit of eggs and wiggled his eyebrows at Merlin.

The servant left silently out the door and I caught a half-smile from Aurelius.

"So, brother, how was your trip?" Uther asked.

Aurelius grew solemn. "We thought them to be a rebel force of Saxons, not tied to any particular kingdom's intention, but I am afraid we may be wrong. We fought our best, but most of our men were taken down. A few of the enemy's men got away, and I fear we may only have a couple weeks until they return with even greater forces. We need to train brutally until we get word of their arrival."

Uther's eyes grew downcast, "Trouble must always find us. Well,"Uther stood up and pushed his chair back against the table, "I will be with the troops and help them train, you should rest for now, brother."

Aurelius stood, "Oh, you are quite the humorous one this morning. I will not sit idly by just because I have a little scrape. How about you and me have a go at it? Just like old times, huh?" He punched his brother in his arm.

"Careful what you wish for, brother. You're not as young as you use to be!" Uther chortled.

Merlin looked at me as Uther and Aurelius left, who continually to jested at one another. "Well, sister, how about I teach you a bit more about magic before I send you out on some errands?"

"Errands?" I asked.

"You can't sneak out all night and then think you can go without chores. Besides, I need more herbs and I'm a very busy guy." Merlin said, giving me an all-knowing smile. "Our people are not great liars, especially when told to family, I should have you know."

I felt myself sink in my chair.