Emeraude

I watched as our patrols carried in the young blonde man. They laid him down at my feet as a silent asking of hat to do with him. The young man was unconscious and looked as if he would stay that way for a while. I studied him as one would study a plant before they eat it or an odd bug they found under a rock. "Take him to my tent. I will heal him and when he regains consciousness we'll send him on his way."

"But Emrys, it's the Pendragon boy," said one of the patrols.

"I know exactly who he is and I'm doing this in hopes of showing the Pendragons," I spat the name, "that we aren't a bunch of heathens in the woods. We are civilized people being treated as animals but the King of Camelot is the animal! Let us not sink to his level. That is how I feel about it and I won't have any arguments. I am Emrys and my word is to be upheld!"

"Yes Emrys," the man said and bowed. He and his friends picked up the boy and carried him to the tent behind me. I walked around the village of tents saying hello to my friends. Well friend, all the others revered me too highly to become my friends. Mordred, a young boy of twelve, was my only friend. He ran out of the tent he had alone and started asking all sorts of questions about the new person.

"Is he a boy? Is he my age? What is he like? Can I play with him when he wakes up?" his ice blue eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Calm yourself Mordred," I said laying a hand on his head. "No he's not a boy, he's a young man. He's probably older than I am. I don't think he'll want to play but you can help me with the healing process if you'd like." Mordred nodded and I led him to the tent where the newcomer lay asleep. When I walked in he stirred and his eyes flew open.

He groaned and looked around sluggishly. When his eyes landed on me they stopped roaming. "Where am I?" he asked trying to sit up. I went quickly to his side and pushed him back into a lying position.

"You mustn't move too much. You're injured and I think you may have hit your head. I'm Merlin but most call me Emrys. I'll need you to take off your shirt so I can assess the damage."

"I'm-" He started but I cut him off.

"I know who you are. You're the Once and Future King," I said helping him with his tunic. His back was badly bruised and there were some cuts. An extremely long gas ripped through his shoulder and bicep. "Mordred fetch me some water, a few rags, and a healing salve. Thank you. Oh! And some bandages." The little brown haired boy ran off to get what I needed.

"What were you talking about the Once and Future King. My name's Prince Arthur," he said wincing as I inspected the gash on his shoulder.

"There are many names for you Arthur," I said forgetting about his title. Frankly I didn't care whether he was a prince or not.

"That's Prince Arthur to you Merlin," he sneered. I poked a finger into one of his bruises and he yelped with pain.

"You're speaking to a very important person Arthur. I suggest you thank me because my friends out there were going to leave you to die out in the woods. I'm the only thing that saved you from being wolf food," I snapped. At that moment Mordred walked in with the supplies. I heated the water with magic and Arthur stared on in shock.

"You're a sorceress!" he exclaimed looking almost frightened of me.

"Yes but I'm not going to use magic to harm you. I promise," I said letting my usual façade fade away. I showed him the side of me that most knew, the softer side. "I just want to help."

I saw his guard go down and he relaxed, "Alright, I'm trusting you." He watched everything I did carefully. I cleaned the wound as tenderly as I could but he kept squirming. I rubbed the healing salve into the gash and he drew in a sharp breath. I rubbed it on the rest of the cuts and bruises. I took the bandages and started wrapping his shoulder and upper arm. I used the rest of the bandages to make a temporary sling.

"Mordred will you get me, nevermind," I said ripping the hem off my blue tunic. I tied it around Arthur neck and carefully set his arm in it. "There."

"Thank you for your kindness I must be going now," he said trying to stand but I pushed him back down.

"You're to stay here until I know you're healed. I haven't helped you for no reason Arthur," I said readjusting his sling. "At least stay for the feast tonight."

"What are you talking about? What holiday is it?" he asked.

"There's no holiday today but we celebrate the spring coming today!" I said excitedly. It was my favorite time of the year and everything was so tiresome the rest of the year. "It's just celebrating the last of winter melting away to spring."

"My father will be worried about me," he said not looking me in the eye.

I grabbed his hand and he looked at me hesitantly, "Please, as my personal and honored guest," I said. "It will be fun."

"I guess it won't hurt just to stay tonight," he said smiling. I jumped up and ran to his shirt. I took off the sling carefully, replaced his shirt, repositioned the sling, and pulled him along with me. We walked to Heather who was in charge of the food and settings tonight.

"Hello Heather, I know this will be a terrible bother but I was hoping if I could get you to set a plate for Arthur as my guest. I was hoping you could set him to my right," I said watching the young girl. She nodded and I thanked her. "Come with me Arthur," I said holding onto his hand, locking our fingers together. "Here's where we will be celebrating," I said pointing to the fire pit on the shore of the lake. "The way the flames reflect on the water is just… magical." I walked him to the seamstress. "Hello? Rose are you here?"

"Yes lady Emrys?" she asked coming out from behind the curtain where she kept the fabrics and finished dresses. "Are you here for your dress?" she asked.

"Yes, and no," I said pulling Arthur forward. "I'll need clothes for him tonight. He's only got this red tunic we found him in plus some chainmail they removed from him. I was wondering if you could take some of the clothes you have made and tailor them to fit. If you're not too busy that is."

"No Emrys, you're in luck actually. Everyone's already picked up their clothes so I'm free. If you'd come back here you two." She swept the curtain aside and we walked past. "Emrys why don't you pick something for him while I measure?" I looked at the lush greens of the grass and then the dark greens of the forest. I picked a white tunic with green stitching of leaves across the collar. The laces on the front were green as well. I pulled a nice brown pair of trousers and a grass green cloak made of thin material with the same leave stitching in a dark forest green.

"What about these?" I said to Rose she nodded and pulled the right sizes while Arthur carefully stepped down off the block that Rose used to measure the length for their trousers. She put them on him and the pants fit put the shirt was a bit baggy around the shoulders. She tapered them in easily and the cloak was no problem.

"There!" she said stepping back and letting me admire her handiwork.

"I like it," I said. Rose scrunched up her nose and I knew that she didn't like something. "What is it?"

"That sling is dreadful!" she exclaimed. "It takes away from the clothes, and it's tattered."

"That's because I ripped the hem off my tunic," I said gesturing to the bottom of the tunic I was wearing. Rose made a sound of disapproval and so I rolled my eyes. Rose was like a friend but I didn't get to see her much because she was always working. She pulled out a piece of green fabric and cut it to the size of the sling.

"I'll embroider it with white in the same pattern and then you can have a nice sling to wear. This is a big day and we don't want people getting the wrong impression from you Arthur," Rose said nicely.

"How did you-" he started but Rose cut him off.

"I'm a Seer, it's my job to know about things before they come." She smiled and Arthur changed back into his old clothes. We put his clothes in a leather bag and he bowed to Rose.

"Thank you for these clothes," he said kissing her hand gently. I couldn't help but snigger. Rose rolled her eyes at me.

"Sorry that Emrys is being immature, she's lived here her whole life and doesn't know anything about chivalry and being a gentleman."

I stuck my tongue out at her and pulled Arthur back to my tent. I watched him as he stared at everything. He sat at my desk and tried to read my book but they were in the language of the Old Religion, so he couldn't read it. The day was almost over so I decided to get my dress from Rose and then start getting ready for the celebrations. I ran to Rose and got my dress and ran right back. Arthur was still trying to decipher the words he never would be able to.

I started to slide my tunic over my head when Arthur shouted. "Hey! What are you doing?"

"I'm going to change into my dress," I said. I slid my tunic the rest of the way over my head revealing my chest bindings. He sat staring and I pulled my dress over my head. I pulled the wrappings from my chest and undid my hair from its braid. I brushed it out and pulled two small sections from each side and braided them tying them together in the back. I brushed through the length that reached to about the small of my back. It came down in waves because it had been in a braid and it was usually straight but it had been up all day.

I cleaned my face and dabbed my face dry with a towel. I felt his gaze drilling into my back. I looked at him and caught him staring. "You need to get ready too Arthur Pendragon."

He shook his head and I handed him his clothes. He looked around and turned red, "Do I have to change in front of you?"

"Yes," I said, "There's nowhere else to." He turned away from me and stripped down to his undergarments. I watched him curiously and he dressed quickly. He fumbled with the laces on his tunic so I helped him with it. I laced it for him and tied his cloak.

I led him to the shore where they were trying to light the fire. I lit it with magic and it roared to life. They smiled and thanked me and I smiled back. I sat on the shore dipping my toes in the shallows. My dress stopped just above my ankles so I decided to go into the shallows. My dress was in two pieces, the first piece was a sleeveless dress with a white skirt with the same leaves from Arthur's shirt at the hem and the bodice was fitted and had straps that crossed in the back. The next piece was a green sash that encircled my waist.

I walked around looking at the minnows swimming around when I felt eyes watching me. I looked at the shore and Arthur was leaning on a tree, arms crossed, watching me with a smile on his face. I smiled back and he realized he'd been caught. I saw a minnow struggling to swim, its fin was at an odd angle so I hiked up my shirt and bent down to pick it up. My hair curtained around my face and I dipped my hand in the water touching the little fish and healed its fin in a little haze of gold and white light. It looked up at me and darted off. I lifted my head up slowly and brushed the hair away from my face. I looked to see if Arthur was still there and he was staring in shock.

I smiled at him and he turned away looking embarrassed. I walked back to shore and checked to see if the little minnow was gone, it was. I stepped back onto shore and said to Arthur, "Not all sorcery is evil. It's the person who makes it seem that way. We here in the Druid camp would never use our gifts in such a disgraceful way." He nodded and I saw he was sincerely trying to understand. "I use my gifts for healing and later in what I'm destined to do. I'm a sorceress but I'm not evil am I Arthur?"

"No. But there are so many that use their gifts, as you call them, for an evil purpose."

"I know Arthur, believe me I know," I said sadly and decided to share what I'd never shared with anyone before. "But Arthur, my father is a good man, only uses his power as a Dragonlord for good and Uther hunts him down like an animal. Hunts us all like animals." I gestured to the camp. "You'll see how hurt the people really are tonight." I walked him toward the horseshoe of colored flags on posts which the opened end led to a long dirt floor which was in front of a platform made of wooden planks. I ducked under the flags and led Arthur to the head table in the horseshoe. People were starting to file in and Mordred sat down to my left. I sat Arthur to my right. When everyone came in I stood up and placed a hand on Arthur and Mordred's shoulders.

"Hello friends and neighbors. Tonight we celebrate the coming of spring! Winter melts away to spring and our crops grow and so do our children," I ruffled Mordred's hair. "We also celebrate the young men and women who are of marrying age, that they will grow and have prosperous lives!

Now many of you have probably noticed the young man to my right. He is not one of us. He is Arthur Pendragon, son of Uther Pendragon and Igraine, the Once and Future King," I heard gasps and some of the men stood. "Please friends, sit." They reluctantly did so. "He is here as my personal and honored guest. Enough blood has been shed today, he is injured and I wanted to show him that Uther is wrong! We are NOT all evil! There is good in magic and I want to show Arthur that. Tonight we will put away our hatred and anger and we will treat him as if he was raised here.

Now! Let the festivities begin!" I shouted happily and sat. A man walked into the horseshoe made by the tables and bowed deeply to me.

"Emrys, in tradition of the spring festival we have chosen a May King and Queen. This year we have chosen you as our May Queen!" he said happily making a wreath of grass, roses, daisies, and other wildflowers appear. I walked forward into the middle and curtsied while he placed the wreath on my head daintily. I smiled as I straightened and people sent sparks of magic up into the air.

"If I may interrupt for one moment?" I asked. "I'd like to show a little display."

"Of course Emrys," he said moving back. I took a deep breath and I felt for the magic inside me. I put out my palm and there flowers of all sorts grew out, but they were made of fire. I set them on the dirt and turned them into wolves that howled and ran in circles around the tables. Then they blended into a one horse that whinnied and exploded showering everyone with little sparks of read, orange and yellow light. All the children's eyes widened and to my surprise, so did Arthur's. Next I summoned little orbs of blue light, threw them into the air, and they shattered, peppering everyone with light water droplets. I bowed and walked to one side smiling. Arthur looked wide-eyed and watched as the man from before reentered the middle. He smiled happily and said, "That was something wasn't it. Now for our May King. After a few revisions we decided that a special young man would become our May King. Emrys said to make him feel like one of us so we will. Arthur we want to welcome you and crown you our May King." Arthur sat there shaking his head and turning red. "Come on lad don't be shy."

I ran over to Arthur and grabbed his hand dragging him to the middle. He stood there looking petrified and the man made a wreath of grass and oak leaves appear. He set it on Arthur blonde locks and I sent up red and gold sparks. Rose followed suit and so did Mordred, but we were about it.

"Come on men don't be jealous," the man said linking Arthur and I's hand together. "Don't be grumpy because the Pendragon gets to dance with Emrys."

"What?" Arthur said. "I-I can't dance."

"Sure you can, I'll help you. It's not that hard," I said. A band of people stood on the stage holding their drums, flutes, lyres and tambourines. I pulled him out onto the dirt floor as everyone watched intently. The music started and I showed Arthur the basic steps and he picked up on it quickly. I moved quickly and he was one of the only people I had ever danced with that could. I moved my feet intricately and he tried to keep up. It was over after a few minutes and he had drifted closer to me the whole time. I spun to face the people and held his hand up in mine.

The people sent sparks up in whites and gold and reds and greens. I sat back down accepting a drink from Mordred. "Thank you. Here," I said offering to Arthur. He nodded and took a mouthful handing it back to me. I nodded and the band kept playing and others started to dance. I watched and when the first few dances were over people started setting plates and the food was brought out. The music played while people got up and got their food. I told Mordred to go ahead while Arthur and I waited. Once everyone had almost gone Arthur and I stood and went to get something to eat. I picked up some bread, strawberries and grapes and avoided the meat. I filled my cup with some wine and sat back down with Arthur right behind me. I ate some of my food and drank watching everyone around me. Mordred and a few others people talked to me and smiled at everyone in turn.

I felt Arthur watching me and when I looked at him he was smiling at me. "What is it?"

"Nothing, nothing at all," he said looking at the people dancing. I grabbed his hand and pulled him out to dance with me. Once I showed him how you were supposed to move we danced to almost everything. I tired and sat in my seat sipping the wine that had been poured in my cup. After the song ended Mordred bowed and took my hand asking me to dance with him. I nodded and gave his hand a squeeze.

We laughed when he trod on my toe. He was so light that it didn't hurt but we laughed anyway. I lead him around and when it ended I pressed a feather-light kiss to his forehead and told him to play with the other children. He ran off and I sat back down next to Arthur. He smiled and asked unexpectedly, "Who's his father?"

"Mordred's?" I asked. He nodded. "His name was Sam."

"He looks like you," he said and I laughed. He thought Mordred was my son. "What's so funny."

"Mordred's not my child," I said laughing. "His mother was a good friend of mine. I told her that if anything happened to her I'd take care of him as if he was my own."

"What happened to his mother and where's his father?" Arthur asked darkly.

"His mother was burned at the stake by Uther and his father was beheaded by Uther as well. His father was… dispatched before his mother and she feared for her life so she made me promise on my life and magic that I would protect him and raise him if anything happened to her. He was four when the soldiers came and dragged her out of their house. He doesn't remember her very well and I never talk about her much. I don't want to remind him of something he doesn't have," I said looking at Mordred watching the other children play. A little boy a bit younger than him gestured him over and I clapped once lightly. Never had the other children invited him to play. He ran with them playing tag and I felt so happy.

The night went on happily and then my favorite dance was here to close out the night. Every girl that was going to dance was given a red sash and I took mine and looked for Mordred but he was nowhere to be found. I decided that Arthur could be my partner. I snuck up beside him and threw the sash around his neck. "Dance with me!"

"No, I-I can't," He said grabbing it. "No. No!" I said as I pulled him toward the floor. I laughed and explained.

"You pretty much just have to copy me," I said. The music started and I took a good grip on the sash and out my arm out with my hand at an angle walking around Arthur as he did the same. I twirled myself into the sash and he pulled it un-twirling me. We repeated it but I tried not to get caught while he tried to get the sash around me again. The song ended as Arthur finally caught me. I was breathing heavily and so was he. I pulled away and sat back down in my seat and Mordred ran up crying. I picked him up and set him on my lap. "Mordred what's wrong?"

"M-my head hurts and s-so does m-my kn-knee," he sniffed. I examined his knee and it looked as if he tripped and scraped it. He had a bump on his forehead. I shushed and rocked him until he fell asleep. I carried him to his tent and left to find Arthur. I led him to my tent and started to redress. He stood outside while I out on my chest bindings. I poked my head out and he walked in rubbing his arms for it was starting to get cold. I pulled my dress off and put my trousers and tunic on.

I turned away from him but he quickly tapped me on the shoulder. He gestured vaguely to the ties. I untied the cloak and threw it over the desk chair. I unlaced the shirt and helped him slip it over his head. I redressed his wounds and untied his sling. "Just lay down there," I said pointing to the bedroll. He nodded and lay down carefully. I grabbed a knit blanket and lay down next to Arthur covering both of us. He rolled over facing me. "What-?"

"I only have one bed and its cold," I said. He nodded and smiled mischievously. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to him. I tried to push away.

"It's cold," he said cheekily. I nodded and poked his gash and he yelped. "Alright I'll let go."

"No it's fine but don't be so cheeky," I said blushing and snuggling into his chest. I fell asleep listening to the steady thrum of his breathing and heartbeat. I fell asleep feeling his warmth and strong arms around me.