♔ 2 | The Other Side...

[not_a_clotpole]

The rain is pelting down and the rocks are hard under Arthur's feet as he flees through the forest looking for somewhere to hide.

Behind him are thundering footfalls, the sound of a band of knights in pursuit.

Arthur picks a bad moment to look over his shoulder to see if his pursuers are gaining ground on him, suddenly he's tripping on a fallen log and tumbling down a steep embankment to the bottom, collecting any number of bruises and scrapes.

The wind is knocked out of him for a moment and he finds himself unable to move for a moment, which is long enough for faces to appear at the top of ditch, the knights of Camelot! Coming for him!

They have however, grouped themselves together and Arthur sees his chance. He scrambles to his feet and makes a desperate gesture, his eyes momentarily flash gold - so quick one would be hard pressed to notice - and a large heavy branch falls on top of the knights knocking them down.

It gives him precious time, time that he can use to escape...

If there even is escape.

Magic in Camelot will get you killed.

(OOC: No prizes for guessing the Chessboard flip - Arthur's warrior skills have been replaced by magic. He's now a Druid and an enemy of Camelot...)

Comments

[not_a_clotpole]

[Even magical!Arthur would never imagine something like that. Even if she tells him it's unlikely he'll believe her.

He clenches his jaw.]

"The King of Camelot claims all magic is evil, but how could children be evil? He has shown us no mercy and we will have to fight back."

[Which isn't as easy as it sounds...magic, even powerful magic has it's limits.]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Her motives are so much more mixed, and less pure, than his. They aren't the motives of the noble prince still inside Arthur's dream self. She simply wants the ones who'd deny her the power that's hers by right and by her heritage, to suffer. And, she'd say, the ones who should rule are the same ones with power.

"Power is the same, no matter the source," says the warrior whose world was equally threatened by the demon of darkness from the sun and the moon's princess of light.

[not_a_clotpole]

[Arthur doesn't want to see anyone unduly suffer, in his mind even the King's death should not be prolonged. It's more than likely he'd be horrified if he could read her mind.

He can't though, so he nods.]

"I have seen those who would use magic for evil, just as I have been helped by those with no magic at all." [At great risk to themselves.]

"There's water in this cave, I should at least collect that if nothing else."

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[She has not become a kind person in the Darkness.]

Magic is the same. It's the person who uses it, that you should accept or hate.

[not_a_clotpole]

[Arthur nods.] "Some fail to understand that, unfortunately...they're the ones in power."

[He reaches into his cloak for a waterskin.] "Come on, this cave has an exit out the other side. I doubt the knights would go that far even if they knew where we'd gone."

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

"And if I go?" she asks coolly. "You plan to stay here in this kind of life?"

[not_a_clotpole]

[Arthur has begun heading deeper into the cave, towards the sound of running water. He looks over his shoulder at her.]

"I can't leave my community," [he looks at her in surprise.] "They took me in when no-one else would."

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

"You have power," she argues. Somehow, she doesn't feel the water approaching, and she won't think to call that strange until she wakes up.

"Use that power to make the world you want."

[not_a_clotpole]

[The girl seems strangely...intense...most Druids don't really feel a need to intergrate with society in general, just be able to live in peace.]

"I don't even know your name. I'm Arthur of the Ferdiad community. Which community are you from?" [It's the standard way that Druids recognise each other.]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

The soldier of Fire and Wisdom, Mercury.

Call me by that. [She doesn't seem to wonder why the daughter of the water planet wields fire; perhaps that, too, is different right now.]

[not_a_clotpole]

[Arthur is quite curious, he's never heard of that community before.]

"You're a solider? A magical one? I didn't think...Are you not from Camelot?"

[Arthur is intrigued by the idea of a magical solider...a group of knights to protect the Druids.]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

To me, Camelot is a legend. [She still has a tendency to be slightly cryptic.]

However, if I exist, and I see Camelot for myself, I have to believe that Camelot exists.

[not_a_clotpole]

[Arthur is quite confused by her statement.] "Of course it exists, we're here in it now."

[He finishes filling one waterskin, then begins with another. He then smiles at her.] "You do look as if you come from somewhere very far away, but rest assured you're on solid ground."

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

If I told you where I came from, would you believe me? [The question is thoughtful, as if there's no real urgency attached.]

[not_a_clotpole]

"Of course I would," [Arthur looks surprised by the question.] "Why wouldn't I?"

[She's a very strange girl that's for certain...]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

I was born on planet Mercury. My powers are because I was born under its protection.

[not_a_clotpole]

[Have an extremely puzzled looking Arthur...the planet Mercury is known at this time, but not certainly not to him (awake or dreaming).]

"I see...I've never heard of it, I'm afraid," [he gives a shrug.] "Not that it matters, the important thing is that you were here."

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[That easy acceptance is something she doesn't encounter often, and Mercury finds herself glancing away in search of something else to focus on.]

You should be arming the men you have here. There's still a chance of having been followed.

['Thank you'. Because it's the truth for her, always: The important thing is being there. It's all she ever looks for.]

[not_a_clotpole]

[Had Arthur known he's reaction would have been rather less calm, but then ignorance is bliss.

He considers her suggestion.]

"The Druids are a rather peaceful people, the elders don't really know how to fight. There's defensive spells of course, most of know those to an extent." [He's pretty sure Mercury won't think that answer satisfactory.] "It's also difficult to get hold of weapons."

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

There aren't blacksmiths among you?

Send some to be trained. It will help your cause.

[not_a_clotpole]

[Arthur shakes his head.]

"Druids do not ride horses or keep stock. We have no need for them."

[Arthur is filling the third and last waterskin.]

"The best weapons are made in Camelot itself and no Druid could risk going there."

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[She only gives a sly, sidelong look, and pulls out a small hand-held device from thin air. She presses a few buttons, turns it on herself, and-

Voila! A rather pretty female knight, in full armor, smirks back at Arthur in Mercury's place. Not everyone had that type of magical advantage for their disguise, of course, but was she expected to believe the guards and knights knew the faces of every single druid?]

[not_a_clotpole]

[Arthur gapes, looking comoletely stunned. So stunned in fact, it's a wonder he doesn't rub his eyes.]

"How did you-?! Doall the people of Mercury have such magical ability?"

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[A few years ago, she was always uncomfortable using these sorts of spells, like she was cheating the universe somehow, or something like that.

Now, she enjoys them thoroughly. She wants to be special. Arthur's reaction is quite gratifying. She shakes her head.]

Only a few of these exist in the world. Others are already mine, too.

You might not have something like this, but there are still ways for you to sneak into the town, isn't that so?

[not_a_clotpole]

[Arthur considers her words.] "I have heard of spells that can change ones appearance. Most of them are dark magic and require the death of the person who's form one wishes to take." [In other words spells that Arthur is not willing to try.] "And there is the matter of money. Stealing weapons is difficult." [He sighs. Their options are so limited, it's stifling.]