#jada thorburn

[jessisnotnormalq]

Chapter 4: Trust

<-Chapter 3

Masterlist

Jada was happy to spend the rest of the day poring over piles and piles of dusty old books that Gaius had managed to retrieve from Geoffrey. Gaius himself accompanied her from time to time in between visiting his patients, searching through the texts that were written in some old and arcane language that Jada had no hope of understanding. Merlin was out for most of the day working for Arthur, but he finally returned in the late afternoon.

            “Find anything yet?” he asked, drawing both Jada and Gaius out of their focused trances as he stepped through the door.

            “Nothing yet,” Jada replied, looking across at Gaius.

            “I’m afraid that travelling through time is a phenomenon that has rarely even been speculated about before, let alone actually studied and documented,” the physician sighed, closing his book in defeat and turning his attention to Jada. “Are you sure there are no more details that you can give us?”

            Jada shook her head. “No, sorry. I’ve told you everything I remember.”

            She wished Morgo hadn’t knocked her out; things would have been so much easier if she could have seen how he’d got her there.

            “No matter,” Gaius tried for a reassuring smile. “I’m sure something will come up eventually.”

            “For now,” Merlin began, calling their attention to him, “We should probably start walking to Gwen’s. She’ll have finished work by now, and we’ll want to be back by nightfall.”

            Jada nodded, rising from her seat and moving to stand by his side. “All right, then. Ready when you are.”

            The two of them headed out of the castle and into the evening together, with Merlin leading the way through the streets of Camelot. Jada couldn’t help but keep looking back over her shoulder at the castle as they walked, almost afraid it might disappear if they got too far away. Strange, she thought. She hadn’t expected to feel any sort of attachment to the place.

            Merlin was giving her odd looks each time she turned, and finally caught her eye long enough to send her a quizzical expression.

            “Sorry,” she laughed. “I just don’t think I’ll ever get used to this place. I mean, look at it!”

            She gestured dramatically back at the castle, all lit up with candles in the windows and braziers blazing in the courtyard.

            Merlin chuckled, shaking his head at her, but he turned to look back at the castle too. She thought she saw a hint of the same wonder she felt in his face, though it had been dimmed over time. She wondered if she’d be here long enough for her own amazement to fade so.

            They reached Gwen’s house in good time, and Merlin stepped forward to give a light knock on the door. It was answered by a man a few decades older than the two of them, who introduced himself as Tom, Gwen’s father, and invited them in with a friendly smile.

            They found Gwen setting up her supplies neatly on the table, and she greeted them just as warmly as her father had, getting to work almost immediately.

            “So do you know what type of dress you’ll be wanting?” Gwen asked Jada, measuring her outstretched arms.

            “Um, I don’t mind, really,” Jada replied. “Whatever’s easiest for you. I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”

            “Oh, it’s no problem. Really,” Gwen insisted. “We want to make you something you’ll look beautiful in, don’t we?” She suddenly blanched, her face turning red. “Not that you don’t look pretty now, I just meant-”

            Despite Gwen’s nerves, Jada was laughing. “It’s all right, I know what you meant. Although really, if you tilt your head just right and squint at me a little, I look pretty much like a boy.”

            “You don’t,” Gwen replied, but it had the effect Jada had intended, and Gwen couldn’t keep the smile off her face for long.

            Their gazes turned to Merlin then, who was squinting at her with his arms folded, his head tilted to one side.

            “Merlin!” Gwen scolded, mortified.

            Jada couldn’t help the giggle that burst from her then.

            “You see it, right?” she said to Merlin, but turned to Gwen before he could answer. “At least you’ll make me look like a pretty boy.”

            Gwen tried to hide her smile again as she crouched down to measure Jada’s legs. “I’ll do my best.”

            “So when do you think you’ll have this done by?” Not that she wanted to rush Gwen, it was just that Ubi’s clothes were already beginning to smell a little weird.

            “Maybe a few days,” Gwen replied, stepping back and jotting some numbers down. “You’ll have to come here to check the fittings, but after that they’re all yours.”

            “Great,” Jada grinned. “Thanks, Gwen.”

            “My pleasure. And it looks like we’re just about done.”

            Merlin pushed himself off the table where he’d been leaning, nodding to Jada before turning back to Gwen. “Thanks, Gwen. We really appreciate it.”

            “It’s no problem at all. I’m just glad I could help. I’ll let you know when everything’s finished.”

            Both Merlin and Jada nodded, heading towards the door as Gwen followed them. Tom bid them farewell as they passed, and they turned back to wave as they stepped out into the cool evening.

            “Oh, Jada?” Gwen called from the doorway.

            “Yeah?” Jada stopped, turning.

            Gwen smiled sweetly, her brown eyes warm. “Welcome to Camelot.”

            Jada thanked her, and Merlin gave one final wave before they headed off, back to the castle.

            By the time they returned to Gaius, night was falling. Gaius had made them dinner, even having the kindness to prepare a portion for Jada, and they sat around the table to eat it gladly.

            “It’s all right if Jada sleeps here for now, isn’t it, Gaius?” Merlin asked over his bowl.

            Gaius pondered the question for only a moment before answering. “I don’t see why not, just as long as it’s not my bed you’re intending to give away.”

            “No, no,” Merlin laughed. “I said she could have my bed.”

            “We agreed to take it in shifts,” Jada interjected, still feeling like she was taking advantage of poor Merlin.

            “All right, then. Are you going up now?” Gaius asked as Merlin pushed his empty bowl away.

            Jada thought it seemed pretty early to go to bed, but she supposed that there wasn’t much you could do without electricity after dark. Merlin looked to her for confirmation, before nodding.

            “Well, goodnight to you both, then,” Gaius said, rising from his seat and beginning to collect all the dishes together.

            Jada followed Merlin up the stairs to his room, but she had only just reached the doorway when he turned back to her nervously. “I… um… just give me one minute.”

            Though bewildered, she nodded, and in the next instant he was gone, shutting the door between them. She heard what sounded like wardrobes opening and closing, drawers sliding themselves shut, and his footsteps hurrying back and forth, and then he was back, looking slightly flustered but holding the door open wide for her now with a smile.

            “Sorry.” He gestured for her to enter. “You can come in now.”

            “Thanks,” Jada laughed, stepping inside and looking around the place.

            It wasn’t a particularly flashy room by any stretch of the imagination, but it was sort of… cute, in its own way. Quaint, almost. There was a simple bed in the middle of the room with a few thin blankets thrown across it; a desk in the corner with some odds and ends on; a plain bedside table; and a small wardrobe still with the end of a sleeve sticking out between the doors. Merlin hastily stuffed it back inside on his way past.

            “Sorry about the boxes,” he said. “They’ve been there since before I moved in.”

            She noticed now the pile of crates stacked precariously in the corner. Maybe Gaius had used this as some sort of storage before Merlin arrived.

            “The bed’s all yours tonight,” he said, “So make yourself comfortable.”

            Jada moved to sit on the bed, which was honestly a little harder than she would have liked, but when she looked back over to Merlin spreading a blanket out on the wooden floor she felt a little guilty.

            “Are you sure you don’t mind me sleeping here?” she asked.

            He looked up at her with a kind smile. “It’s fine, really. I’ll let you sleep here on the floor, tomorrow.”

            “Thank you, Merlin,” she said sincerely. “For everything you’ve done. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

            “It’s nothing, really.”

            He laughed shyly, and Jada thought she could see a hint of pink in his cheeks. Then he stood again, eyes more serious. “I’ve just got to run out and take care of one last thing. Will you be all right here?”

            “I think I can manage by myself for a little while,” she laughed. “Do you know how long you’ll be?”

            He shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t bother waiting up for me. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

            Her smile grew as she nodded. “Sure, see you in the morning. Night, Merlin.”

            She hadn’t meant to stay awake as long as she did. In truth, she hadn’t meant to stay awake long at all. She’d lain down, a little miserable at having no other clothes to change into to escape Ubi’s rotten rags, and then all of a sudden she was thinking about how much she missed her home. She wanted clean pyjamas, central heating, and toothpaste. She wanted a hot shower, and Jim’s cooking, and Izzy’s hugs. She wanted Emily; she wanted to hold her little body in her arms and never have to let go again. She wanted to hear her babble in the morning, or even just to hear her soft breathing in the room with her as she fell asleep.

            Instead, all she got was silence.

            She didn’t realise she’d been crying until she heard footsteps on the stairs, and then she did her best to silence her already quiet gasps. She heard Merlin open the door, and was glad her back was to him as he crept across the room towards his makeshift bed.

            He stopped before he reached it, however, his quiet footfalls hesitating. “Jada?”

            She would have pretended to be asleep, would have ignored him in the hope that he’d just let her be, but there was something off about his voice. His question had been just a murmur, but his voice had seemed harder somehow, more tense, and it made her turn to look at him without another thought.

            They both studied each other for a quiet second, both asking “What’s wrong?” in almost the same instant, but only Jada gave a watery laugh at the mirroring. Merlin looked tense, guarded even, his eyes shifting uneasily.

            “You’re crying,” he pointed out, nodding towards her tear-stained face.

            “It’s nothing.” She tried for a smile. “I’m just a bit homesick.”

            He nodded, arms remaining stiffly at his sides, so Jada nodded towards him. “What about you? Has something happened?”

            “No,” he replied. “I’m fine. Goodnight.”

            Without a pause, he got down under his blanket, turning his back to her.

            Jada watched him for a moment before letting out a sigh. She wondered about the boy inside the walls, hidden underneath all the secrets.

            “It must get lonely.”

            She hadn’t exactly meant to speak her thoughts out loud, but she thought she saw the slightest turn of Merlin’s head.

            “Sorry. I didn’t mean it as, like, an accusation or anything. It’s just, well…” She stuttered, but had no clue what to say to ease the situation. “I guess I just thought I might know the feeling. Sorry.”

            She lay back down, hardly expecting any more to come of it than perhaps a very awkward morning tomorrow, but after a few minutes Merlin spoke again in a quiet voice.

            “Tell me about your home.”

            Jada gave a soft smile, though he couldn’t see it. “What do you want to know?”

            “I don’t know. What’s it like?”

            “It’s…” she hesitated, looking for a place to start. “It’s bigger than we can afford, for one thing." She laughed fondly, shaking her head. “It’s got three bedrooms, and Emily has to share with me because there’s no room for her anywhere else.”

            “Emily?”

            Her smile was sadder now. “My daughter.”

            “Oh. How old is she?”

            “She just turned one last week. Although you’re supposed to use, like, a ‘corrected’ age because she was born four months premature, and it takes them a while to catch up. So, for that she’s almost nine months.”

            There was silence for a little while. Then, “How old are you?”

            “Twenty-one.”

            “Oh.”

            More silence. She was beginning to think he’d fallen asleep, when he said, “I’m sorry you’re stuck here.”

            Jada tried to ignore the pang of despair in her chest. “It’s not like it’s your fault. In fact, without your help I’d probably be sleeping somewhere on the streets right about now.”

            “Mhm.” It was a short sound, certainly not bashful like he had been earlier, and it made her wonder if she was getting closer to whatever had caused him to act like this.

            “Y’know, if you wanted to talk about anything, I wouldn’t mind,” she tried. “In fact, I’d be happy to help. And it’s not like I have anybody I could tell, is it?”

            “How do I know that?” This time his voice was so quiet she wasn’t sure he’d intended to say it out loud, let alone have her hear it. He immediately fell silent again, as if bracing for her response.

            Was that the crux of it, then? He didn’t trust her? Did he think she was some sort of spy? But who would she even be working for?

            “Merlin?” she said softly, and after a moment he turned just enough to look at her. “Who would I tell?”

            His eyes darted away, though his jaw remained locked and his features hard.

            Jada sat up, leaning forward subconsciously as a different realisation slowly dawned. “Wait a minute; people don’t normally assume someone is spying on them unless they have someone they think might send a spy. Who would want to spy on you?”

            It couldn’t have been Uther, surely; if the King suspected Merlin of any crimes he would have been arrested the second he’d shown her his magic. At least, if she really had been a spy. So that meant that there was someone else, someone that wanted to hurt Merlin somehow for something she didn’t understand.

            Merlin had sat up himself in response to her sudden movement, looking almost as though he were bracing for an attack. “No-one. It doesn’t matter. Just leave it, okay?”

            Jada slowed, trying to make herself seem as unthreatening as possible. She held her hands up in what she hoped was a reassuring gesture, but she couldn’t just leave the issue there.

            “Somebody wants to hurt you.” She made her voice soft again, though it wasn’t quite a question or a statement. This realisation made her feel… sad. Sad that he had to live life constantly on guard; sad that he had to question every passing person’s motives; sad that he felt he had to shut himself off from the world or get himself hurt. Sad, and angry. Because he was just a kid—eighteen!—and somebody wanted to hurt him.

            “Who?” Her voice had a sharper edge to it than she had intended, and she saw surprise pass over Merlin’s face, then confusion. She softened. “You think I want to hurt you?”

            He didn’t reply, so she flicked her feet out from under the blanket and crossed the room to sit down by his feet. “I don’t want to hurt you, Merlin. Believe me, it’s the last thing I want.”

            He studied her face for a while, his own still painted with confusion. “Then, I don’t understand,” he said at length. “What do you want?”

            She almost wanted to cry again, then. This poor boy, she thought to herself. “I want to go home. I guess that’s my primary objective.” She gave a short laugh. “And, right in this moment, I’d like to find out whoever it is that wants to hurt you and go ask them who the fuck they think they are. And maybe kick their ass.”

            He actually laughed then, and the sound made Jada feel less heavy. “That could be interesting.” His face fell. “No, actually, that would be incredibly dangerous.”

            Jada snorted. “Oh, please. I’ll have you know I did a whole three months of taekwondo.”

            “You know I have no idea what that is, right?”

            “Self-defence. Basically fighting.”

            “Right. Either way, it wouldn’t do much good, not against Nim-” He caught himself at the last second, eyeing Jada nervously. “Uh, I mean-”

            “Nim?” Jada repeated. She skimmed back through the legends, but she couldn’t think of any notable character called Nim. There was Madam Mim, from The Sword in the Stone…

            Merlin sighed, finally defeated. “Nimueh.”

            Nimueh. She knew that name. But that didn’t make any sense.

            “I don’t understand, I thought you and Nimueh were supposed to be… you know…” She made a few vague motions, but at Merlin’s clueless expression, she gave up. “All romantic, and stuff.”

            The surprise hit him first, quickly followed by disgust. “What? No! She tried to kill me!”

            Okay, Jada thought, Nimueh=bad. It seemed there really wasn’t much the legends had gotten right. Then her brain caught up properly with what Merlin had said. “Wait, she tried to kill you? When?”

            Another sigh of defeat. “A few days ago. She poisoned me.”

            “What? Why?”

            After studying her for a moment, Merlin at last gave up his tale. He told her about the plague that had swept through Camelot, about how Gaius had discovered that it stemmed from the water, and how they’d found the afanc—some monstrous, magical creature—in the city’s well. He told her how Gwen had been blamed for conjuring the plague after her father miraculously recovered from it, and even admitted that he had been the one responsible for curing Tom. He told her how he, Arthur, and Morgana had headed down and defeated the afanc, and how Uther had freed Gwen once Gaius had discovered Nimueh’s hand behind the pestilence.

            His tale then turned to Nimueh’s revenge. Somehow, she’d known exactly who had defeated her afanc, and had managed to sneak a poison goblet into a feast. Merlin had ended up drinking the poisoned wine instead of Arthur, but it was Arthur who had ridden out against his father’s orders to find the antidote. He’d found Nimueh on his journey, and she’d tricked and almost killed Arthur, too, but the Prince had prevailed, and Merlin had recovered once the antidote had been administered.

            “So you’ve been waiting for her to try again since then?” Jada guessed.

            It was late now that Merlin had finished explaining, and truthfully her butt was going numb from sitting for so long on the floor, but she didn’t dare move for fear of losing this new openness again.

            Merlin nodded.

            “And you thought that that was what I was going to do? Kill you for her?”

            He shrugged, not meeting her gaze.

            “Can I ask why you thought I was working for her?”

            “I thought…” He shifted, leaning forward a little. “I started to think that maybe the whole time-travelling thing was a lie. Nimueh seems to have some knowledge of the future, so that could have explained your ability to talk about that. Then, you mentioned a ritual, though you’ve never said what it is or what it’s for. That sounds like something from the Old Religion, and Nimueh’s a High Priestess. Then…”

            He sighed again. “I don’t know. I just got this feeling that I shouldn’t trust you. But it’s been wrong before…”

            “What do you think now?”

            She turned her face up to him, keeping her expression open. His gaze searched hers, and in that instant she felt as though he was looking right through her exterior; down, down into the very core of her. It wasn’t exactly an unpleasant feeling, she noticed, it was just… intense.

            “I want to trust you,” he admitted, frowning a little.

            Jada felt the corner of her mouth quirk upwards. “What, don’t you know any truth spells?”

            She’d meant it as a joke, but she saw Merlin’s face change as he considered it. “I don’t- I don’t even know if there are any…”

            Suddenly, he hopped to his feet, hurrying over to stand beside his bed. “Um, could you… not look for a minute?”

            Jada didn’t have a clue what was going on, but in an effort to seem trustworthy, she shut her eyes and covered them with her hands. She heard some sort of wooden creak, something being set down on the floor, and some shuffling.

            “Okay, you can open your eyes, now.” He was sat on the bed, a thick, arcane-looking book in his lap, and was already flicking through the pages.

            Jada moved to sit beside him. “You’re going to tell me that’s a magic book now, aren’t you?”

            He sent her a crooked grin, though hardly turned his attention from the pages before him. They looked to Jada completely unreadable at first, written in an ancient language as they were, but as she watched the flipping pages more closely she thought it seemed oddly familiar. It took her a few minutes to place it, but finally she recalled studying Beowulf in her English Literature class, and concluded that it was probably Old English. Maybe it wasn’t so ancient after all—for Merlin’s time, anyway.

            He was eyeing her curiously now, in between page turnings. “If I found a truth spell, would you really let me use it on you?”

            Jada shrugged. “I don’t see why not. As long as you promise not to ask me anything embarrassing.”

            He laughed. “Like what?”

            Jada laughed, too. “I don’t know. I’m not giving you any ideas, though.”

            They were silent again for a few minutes, save for the sound of the pages turning. Then, it was Jada who broke it. “You’re very interesting, do you know that?”

            He gave her a sideways glance, though she thought he seemed a little flustered again. “I’m really not.”

            “I think you are. You’re the most interesting person I’ve met here, anyway. Although, come to think of it, I’ve only met, like, six people.”

            She hoped that Merlin’s laughter would become a more regular sound from now on. Jada vowed then that if she really had to stick around, she was going to do everything she could to make this mood more common than his earlier one. Nobody should have to feel so alone, and she was going to do her very best to prove herself trustworthy so that he didn’t have to be.

Chapter 5 ->

[jessisnotnormalq]

Chapter 3: Magic

<- Chapter 2

Masterlist

When Jada began to come to once again, she was surprised to find herself in a comfortable yet unfamiliar bed. She desperately hoped that she would open her eyes to find herself back in Morgo and Ubi’s spare bedroom, that it was the morning after the party and she had dreamt everything since she went to sleep that night. She kept her eyes shut for several moments longer, too afraid to open them and find that it had all really happened.

            When she did eventually open her eyes, she was still in Gaius’ room, but there was a tall figure standing over her. Her breath caught in her throat as she sat bolt upright, scrambling to get away from the figure, and her shoulder sent out a burst of pain in response. Merlin wore an expression of probably equal fear, his hand shooting up to face her in some sort of warning as his wide eyes remained fixed on her.

            Jada froze, unsure of what the warning meant, but not wanting to test him and find out.

            “What did you do to me?” she demanded.

            “I didn’t want to,” he replied, his voice hard. “You gave me no choice.”

            “What did you do to me?”

            His jaw tightened. “I made you sleep. You hit your chin on the way down, but the bruising should be gone in a few days.”

            “How?”

            She was so tired of all this bullshit, and try as she might, she just couldn’t understand any of it. But she couldn’t help noticing the similarities between what both Merlin and Morgo had done to her.

            “You couldn’t have drugged me; you didn’t give me anything. And you certainly didn’t hit me and knock me out that way. So, how?”

            His eyes darted away, before he moved forwards towards her. “I think you need to rest, Jada.”

            “Stay away from me,” she warned, shifting away from him.

            Merlin halted, but he didn’t back up. They stared at each other hard for several minutes, before Jada finally gave in, her shoulders slumping in defeat and her expression softening.

            “I just want to know what’s going on. I don’t know where I am, I don’t know how to get home, and I don’t know why I’m even here in the first place. I just want to go home.”

            Merlin shifted where he stood, before his body language softened slightly too. “You said you were here to learn magic.”

            “That’s what Morgo said. But I’ve never met him before. I’ve been abducted, left in a forest, and then dragged here, and nobody will tell me why.” She pulled her legs up to her chest, hugging them tightly. “I just want to go home.”

            Merlin moved as if to sit on the bed, but at her flinching away he stood again, holding his hands out in apology. “You didn’t say you’d been abducted.”

            “You’re working for him, it’s not like you didn’t know.”

            “Jada, I’m telling you, I’ve never even heard of Morgo before today. I’m not lying to you.” His eyes were earnest, but still Jada was unconvinced.

            “What, then? Am I just supposed to believe that all of this is real? That Morgo’s somehow sent me back to the bloody Dark Ages, and you’re actually Merlin from the legends and magic is real? How stupid do you think I look?”

            Now Merlin did sit, perching on the edge of the farthest corner from her despite her uncomfortable look. His expression was serious and intense. “Are you trying to tell me you’re from the future? What year were you born?”

            “1994.”

            “Jada, it’s only 532 now.”

            “But- but that’s not possible,” she stammered. “Surely if Morgo was a time-traveller, he’d need some kind of time machine, or a portal, or something.”

            “You said you were unconscious; maybe you just didn’t see it.”

            She thought about the house, about the antiqueness of it, and how out of place both the house itself and Morgo had looked during the party. But what about Ubi?

            “So this is-” she felt her voice break, swallowed, and tried again. “This is real? It’s all real? I’m actually in Camelot?”

            Merlin nodded gently. “And you’re really from the future?”

            “2015.” After a moment, she tried for a laugh, though it sounded weak. “Actually, I guess it’s 2016 now, since we just had New Year’s. But I don’t understand; how am I supposed to get back?”

            Merlin shrugged. “Did Morgo not say anything about that?”

            Jada shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Maybe if I just do what he wants, he’ll take me home eventually.”

            “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Merlin frowned. “How do you know you can trust him?”

            “I don’t,” Jada responded simply. “But right now, it’s the only idea I have, since it’s not like I can walk back to the future.”

            “I suppose not,” Merlin nodded. “You’ll need somewhere to stay then. I can help you find somewhere, if you want?”

            Jada couldn’t stop herself from frowning. “Why? Why would you help me?”

            The boy gave an uncertain laugh, as if he couldn’t quite understand it himself. “I think we’ve gotten off to a bad start. I was afraid because you knew my secret; I thought you were trying to tell Arthur about me. I didn’t realise you were just confused.”

            “That was my mistake,” she admitted. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realise I was putting you in actual danger. Maybe we should try this again?”

            He chuckled, and for the first time since his sudden silence during the journey there, Merlin sounded like he had when Jada had first met him. “That seems fair enough.”

            “All right, then. I’m Jada the time-traveller, apparently.” She stuck her hand out for him to shake, and he took it with a grin.

            “I’m Merlin the warlock. Not quite a wizard, as you said.”

            “What’s the difference?” Jada asked.

            Merlin shrugged. “Gaius says that warlocks are special; they have magic from birth. Wizards have some innate ability, but mostly they have to learn and practise it, and it doesn’t emerge until later. They’re usually the ones that lock themselves away in the ridiculous towers.” He laughed again, a warm, welcoming sound. “I suppose that’s why you were expecting an old man with a beard and a pointy hat.”

            “Probably,” Jada agreed with a laugh of her own. “So there’s different types of people with magic?”

            “Yeah, there’s quite a lot. Mostly people just call us sorcerers.”

            “Can you… Can you show me? Or would that be bad?” She was intrigued now, lured in by the mysteries of this new world. Besides, if it was all a lie, he would surely be caught out now, wouldn’t he?

            Merlin looked towards the door, seeming uneasy. “I’m not supposed to even talk about it with anyone. Gaius doesn’t like me to.”

            Jada pursed her lips, leaning forwards. “Well, technically you didn’t tell me about it: I guessed. I already knew, so you can’t get in trouble for that.”

            Now Merlin shifted in his seat, leaning towards her with uncertain eyes. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone?”

            Jada smiled. “If I did, you could just tell on me, too. I’m sure if you told them I’m claiming to be from the future, they’d lock me up and ignore everything I said. But yes, I promise.”

            Merlin moved closer to her, glancing towards the door again as he held out his fist. His lashes fluttered rapidly, before his lips whispered the word “Forbearne,” and then his eyes ignited like two golden stars burning in the heavens. Jada’s breath caught in her throat at the sight, certain now that this was no trick, but almost as quickly as she could blink they had faded back to a cool blue.

            His fingers opened delicately, as though something precious and fragile were inside, to reveal a small flame flickering in his palm. It cast a warm light onto his face, though the flame reflected in his eyes now was nothing compared to the gold that had been there moments before.

            “That’s amazing,” she breathed, hardly aware of her own voice.

            Merlin’s eyes looked to her face then. “Really?”

            She gave a laugh, startling herself. “Are you joking? That’s…” She wished she could find a word to describe it accurately. “It’s amazing. Incredible. Fantastic. How do you do that?”

            Now Merlin laughed, releasing some of the tension in his shoulders. “I don’t know, it just… happens. I’ve been like this since I was born.”

            “I’m sure your poor mum must have had a right hard job, then,” she teased. She tried to imagine Emily with the ability to make small fires appear at will, and was certain that it would lead to no small amount of chaos.

            “What about you, then?” Merlin asked, interrupting her musing.

            “Me?”

            “You said you were supposed to learn from me. You have magic, too?”

            “I-” Jada frowned. She’d never felt particularly magical or supernatural in her life, with the exception of when she was ten and became convinced she could control the weather with her emotions. It was only after she’d learnt about pathetic fallacy in an English lesson that that illusion had subsided. “No, I don’t think so…”

            Merlin’s brows furrowed too. “But I thought… What did Morgo want you to learn it for, anyway?”

            Jada shrugged. “I’m supposed to conduct some sort of ritual, or something. At the time I just thought he was crazy, so I didn’t really press the issue.”

            Merlin tapped his fingertips against his leg, thinking. “So you want me to teach you magic, even though you’ve never done anything magical before, so that you can go and do some kind of ritual that you have no idea about?”

            Jada’s smile was apologetic. “…Apparently? I dunno, maybe Morgo just got the wrong person.”

            “Maybe,” Merlin mused. “But even if he did, you still have to get home somehow, right?”

            “Maybe he’ll eventually realise he messed up and come get me.”

            “How much are you willing to bet on that?”

            “Apparently, my life. It’s not like I have any other choice, is it?” She shrugged again. “If I’m wrong, I’ll be stuck here forever. If I’m right, everything’ll be fine.”

            “That’s quite a gamble.”

            “What other option do I have?”

            Merlin shrugged, clueless. “I’ll let you know if I think of anything.”

            “Thanks. Right, first things first: I gotta find somewhere to stay, then. Bearing in mind I have no money on me, and nothing to sell, I bet that’s going to be quite a challenge.”

            “You can stay here if you want, until you’ve found somewhere,” Merlin offered. “I’m sure Gaius wouldn’t mind. You can even have my bed.”

            “Thank you, Merlin, but I have no idea how long it’ll take. I’m not making you sleep on the floor the whole time.”

            “It’s fine, really,” he insisted, nodding in reassurance. “I used to sleep on the floor back at home, anyway. It’s nothing.”

            Jada leant forwards, regarding him. “The most I’m willing to accept is to do it in shifts. And that’s if Gaius even agrees to let me stay here.”

            “Oh, he will, don’t worry about it.” He seemed sure of that fact, before giving a small smile and nodding. “Shifts it is, then. But you get the first one.”

            Jada shook her head, but it was more in defeat than denial. “Fine, but don’t you be complaining about any backache in the morning.”

            “I won’t,” he grinned. “What’s the next thing you need to sort out?”

            She thought for a moment, mentally cycling through all the things she’d usually pack for a holiday. “Some clothes. I only have these, and they aren’t even mine.”

            Merlin nodded. “I can ask Gwen about that, she’ll be able to make you something. And I’m sure she’ll have something you can borrow until then.”

            “Wouldn’t I have to pay her if she’s making clothes for me? No money, remember?”

            He gave her a crooked grin. “Don’t worry about that. Gwen’s got a good heart; she’d probably do it for free if I explained the situation to her. But I’ll find a way to pay her for it.”

            “I can’t ask you to buy me anything.”

            “Then…” He shrugged casually, “Pay me back later. But you’ve got to find some way to get money, first.”

            “Well, what kind of jobs are therer around here?” She crinkled her nose at the thought of being a blacksmith or a servant, though she couldn’t think of any other job from any of the video games she’d played or books she’d read. Everybody always seemed to be of higher birth, but she knew that flouncing around as a lady of the court was out of the question.

            Merlin shrugged. “Maybe you could work in the tavern?”

            Ah, yes, that was the other stereotypical job. A tavern wench. She made a disapproving face.

            Merlin laughed, raising his hands in surrender. “All right, then; what did you do before you came here?”

            “Acting. Don’t suppose you’ve got a theatre around here?”

            “I wouldn’t know, but there’s loads of performers that arrive at court for special occasions. Maybe you could be a bard?”

            At least he didn’t say jester, she thought. She was no fool. But maybe performing for the royal court wouldn’t be so bad, if she put aside the thought that they could have her executed for a flat note.

            “How would I even apply for that? It’s not like I can give them a CV.”

            Merlin made a quizzical face, but decided instead to bypass the unfamiliar vernacular. “I can ask Arthur, if you want. Maybe he’ll be able to help.”

            “This seems to have just become ‘Here Merlin, deal with all of my problems for me,’” she laughed, but she was grateful nonetheless for his willingness to help her. “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

            “No problem,” he flashed the crooked grin again, before rising from his seat. “Right, let’s go and see Gwen, then. She’s probably working right now, but we’ll see if we can visit her after work and she can measure you.”

            “All right,” Jada agreed, standing up herself. “Let’s go, then.”

            Merlin lead the two of them through the twisting passageways of the castle until they came to a wooden door atop a stone stairway. He gave three quick taps with his knuckles, and after only a moment the door opened to reveal a girl with brown skin dotted with freckles, and flowers entwined in her curly hair.

            “Merlin,” she greeted him with a warm smile.

            Merlin’s own smile reflected hers. “Hi, Gwen. Can I borrow you for a second?”

            Gwen glanced behind her, back into the room that she had emerged from, before stepping out and shutting the door. “What can I do for you?”

            “This is Jada.” He gestured to her by his side, and Jada gave the girl a little wave.

            “Hi,” she said.

            “Nice to meet you,” Gwen greeted her with another smile.

            “Jada was… um…” Merlin glanced back at her for a second, seeming to decide how much to let Gwen in on. “Well, she was kidnapped.”

            “Oh, that’s terrible,” Gwen gasped, her warm eyes now full of concern as they regarded Jada. Jada shrugged, not wanting to ruin whatever story Merlin was going to tell Gwen with a stupid comment.

            “Luckily we managed to run into each other, and she’s safe here in Camelot now,” Merlin was continuing. “But she’s not got any money, and she’s only got the one set of clothes—which, as you can see, are not the best.”

            Jada would have been offended, but as she looked down at herself now she could see the tattered edges of the material and the flecks of mud caked into them. Merlin was definitely right.

            “I can make you something, if you want?” Gwen offered, and Jada tried to ignore Merlin’s immediate grin.

            “Are you sure you don’t mind?” she asked. “I don’t know how I’ll be able to repay you.”

            “Oh, don’t be silly,” Gwen waved her off gently. “I already owe Merlin a favour or two. In fact, probably a lot more than that…” She trailed off, her eyes flickering to him before her attention returned to their current situation. “If you come by my house after I’m done working, I’ll be able to take your measurements and get started right away. I should have it finished in no time.”

            “Thank you,” Jada smiled, at the same time as Merlin began to speak also, still beaming.

            “Thanks, Gwen. You’re the best!”

            Gwen blushed, her gaze dropping quickly between her feet and his face. “Oh, no, no. It’s nothing, really. I’m just happy to help.”

            “I really appreciate it,” Jada said, hardly able to keep the smirk off her face as she eyed the two of them.

            Gwen smiled in response, before gesturing to the door behind her. “I should be getting back.”

            Both Merlin and Jada nodded, thanking her again before she disappeared back inside the room.

            “So, what’d you do, then?” Jada asked as they turned back the way they had come.

            “What?” Merlin gave a quizzical expression.

            “Gwen said she owed you for something. What did you do?”

            “Oh, that.” Merlin was quiet for a moment. “I helped prove her innocence when Uther wanted to execute her for sorcery.”

            Jada was stunned, walking in silence beside him for a long while before she spoke again. “Gwen has magic?” she whispered at last.

            Merlin shook his head. “No. It’s a long story, really. I’m not sure I should explain it here.”

            “That’s okay,” Jada replied, and she meant it. The more she delved into the workings of Camelot, the more terrifying it seemed to grow. Strangely, she didn’t feel afraid, though she had no doubt that she probably should be. But none of it felt real to her yet, as though it was all just some big game of make-believe, or a dream where she could see the story unfolding before her, all the while knowing she could never really be harmed. She was an observer, an outsider for sure, while all the characters moved around her and brought the story to life.

            Merlin had to return to his own work, but he made sure she was safely back in Gaius’ quarters before heading out again. Jada pondered her situation long after he was gone, her knowledge of the original Arthurian legends weighing heavily on her mind. So far, the legends did not seem to be even remotely accurate; Guinevere—if she had guessed rightly—was no princess, Arthur had not been raised by Sir Kay, and Merlin was further from his legendary counterpart than she ever could have imagined. So did that mean that all of the future legends were wrong, too? Was Arthur still destined to die at the hands of Mordred?

            Mortally wounded. The distinction was important. And she was supposed to stop him dying, how? If she couldn’t use magic, then she couldn’t perform whatever ritual Morgo had wanted her to do, which meant that Arthur was going to die.

            All right then, she thought. Hundreds of fictional characters die, why should Jada care?

            Unless…

            If Mordred never wounded Arthur, there would be no need to save him. But could she mess around with the story like that? If she really had travelled through time, wouldn’t there be some dire consequence of her changing history? She could create a paradox, or the whole universe could explode, or maybe even an alternate timeline might appear that meant she could never get home again because the future would be so drastically altered. Maybe it was better if she just left well enough alone.

            One thing she was certain of, however, was that if Morgo didn’t come back for her, she was well and truly screwed. She couldn’t imagine living the rest of her life here, so far back in the past, with no showers, or internet, or even toothpaste. Worse yet, she couldn’t even begin to imagine what would happen to Emily if she never returned. Jada was the only family she had left, and she wasn’t about to just lie down and accept her fate with that in mind. She had to get back. Even if it meant learning how to bend time herself.

Chapter 4 ->

[jessisnotnormalq]

Chapter 2: Lost

<- Chapter 1

Masterlist

When Jada awoke, she found herself lying in the middle of a clearing, a bed of soft grass beneath her and a clear blue sky above her. She was covered from chin to feet by what appeared to be some sort of forest-green cloak, like the kind she’d expect to see worn in a period drama, though certainly not by any member of the nobility.

            She jerked upright, the memories of her conversation with Morgo returning to her suddenly, only to find as the cloak fell away from her that she was completely naked beneath it. Grasping the fabric to her, she tried to recall just how exactly she’d gotten here—wherever ‘here’ even was. And what the hell had happened to her clothes? She remembered wearing them in the kitchen, and she was certain that she hadn’t spontaneously decided to remove them in the hallway. So that meant that either Ubi or Morgo had removed them, after she’d blacked out.

            She halted her train of thought there, too afraid of where it may lead her. Instead, she decided to focus on the present; she needed to figure out how to get out of the situation and leave how she got into it for another time, when she was safe at home.

            Looking around the clearing, her gaze fell on a small pile of material not too far from where she sat. Bunching the cloak around her, she scooted towards it to find that it was a pile of clothing, with a note left on the top. Jada,             I’m sorry this has been so hectic; I really did try to convince Morgo to let you go, but he’s just so stubborn…

            He does truly, honestly need your help though, and trust me when I say he’s not the type of man to admit to that easily. Your clothes will probably have disappeared by the time you find this (sorry about that, too), but it’s just a self-preservation method that the universe uses to try and keep its timeline in order. Can’t have people taking guns or phones back into the Stone Age, now, can we? Basically, anything that wasn’t made in this world or this time period is removed from existence. Lucky your phone was in your coat pocket, eh?

            Anyway, I’ve left you some clothes here so you don’t have to wander around the woods wearing nothing but Morgo’s old cloak. They’re probably not in the best condition, but I didn’t exactly prepare to abduct and then abandon you in the woods, so I guess you’ll have to make do.

           You should head towards Camelot, which is apparently west of where you are now. You’ll have to tell me what it’s like when you get back; I’ve never been. Morgo says Uther’d have my head quicker than I could open my mouth to say ‘Hello’. I swear he thinks I’m stupid.

            Anyway, it’s adventure time! Good luck, and remember; you have to find Merlin. The rest is pretty much up to you.

I hope you don’t hate me,

Ubi

            Setting the note aside, Jada examined the clothing that Ubi had left for her. He was right in saying they weren’t in the best condition; they looked like they’d been living in the back of his wardrobe for decades gathering dust and moths, but they would do for now, at least. Besides, it wasn’t as though she had any better options unless she wanted to get caught in a mild breeze and land herself with a hefty fine to pay, so she begrudgingly put them on.

            Still, it was hard to try and wrap her head around exactly what was going on. She’d known Ubi for more than two years now, and he’d never shown any signs of being a…whatever the hell he was. A kidnapper? A lunatic? Or just some douchebag trying to play a prank on her?

            And Morgo… Well, Jada couldn’t say she’d be above punching him in the jaw if she ever saw him again. He’d been acting creepy ever since he’d set eyes on her, and she should have gotten the hell out of there when she’d had the chance. If it hadn’t been for Ubi, if she hadn’t trusted Ubi…

            If there was one thing that she could glean from his letter of nonsense, however, it was that the two of them likely still had her phone with them. Which meant no calling anyone for help, unless she could find her way out of this forest and back to civilisation. Perhaps she could knock at someone’s door and ask them for aid.

            Jada presumed she had been dumped somewhere in the forest out the back of the house, though she certainly did not know the area well enough to determine which way she would be better off wandering. What she did know, however, was that there was no way in hell she was playing along with Ubi’s little game, so west was out of the question. She thought the house was on the south side, and though she had absolutely no desire to ever see the place again, her car should still have been there. If she could get to her car, she could get home.

            Crap, her keys! They were in her jacket pocket, which she had last seen in her hand in the hallway. All right, then, she decided. She’d have to just risk it. Grab a hefty branch on her way there and beat the sons of bitches with it. She knew Ubi; he was absolutely useless in a fight, and Morgo didn’t look too intimidating either. Grab a branch for self-defence, grab her keys, and get the fuck out of there. South it was, then.

            She’d not been walking for long when she heard the sound of hoof-beats in the distance, somewhere in the trees ahead of her. They were travelling at a quick pace, and she knew that they would soon be on her if she remained where she was. She only hoped the riders were willing to help her.

            As they drew into view, Jada noticed that each of the horses bore a man clothed in silver mail, with a cloak of deep red trailing behind them. There was only one who stood out among them, dressed all in brown as he was, though he did not look any less unusual.

            One of the men near the front of the group slowed his horse to a halt when he spotted her, signalling the others to do the same.

            “Greetings,” he called to her. “These woods are a dangerous place to walk alone; what’s your business?" He seemed to read her confusion as fear, however, and softened his voice. “I am Prince Arthur of Camelot. And you are…?”

            “Jada,” she replied curtly. She was starting to feel a little faint, and though her headache had faded earlier, it was now threatening to make a comeback.

            “Is everything all right, Jada?” ‘Arthur’ was doing a good job of seeming concerned, but now Jada knew he was just part of Morgo’s game. She needed to escape.

            “I’m fine,” she managed, doing her best to give him a smile. “I’ll just be on my way-”

            “Really?” Arthur raised his eyebrows. “Because I’m not sure you seem fine. In fact, you seem quite afraid. What is it you’re afraid of?”

            She couldn’t run; they’d be onto her in a moment with those horses. And they probably knew the land better than her, too.

            “Nothing.” She wasn’t sure she even convinced herself.

            “Maybe we should take her to Gaius,” the man in brown piped up. Though, upon closer inspection, Jada could see that he wasn’t a man—though he was certainly tall enough to pass as one, if it weren’t for the babyish face. He could only have been in his late teens, at most.

            Arthur regarded him before dismounting his horse. The boy did the same, moving around to take the other man’s reins.

            “You are in no danger here,” Arthur tried to reassure her, though she found herself taking a few quick steps back as he approached. He halted, holding up his hands. “No harm will come to you, I swear.”

            “What do you want from me?” she blurted. The whole lot of them—‘Prince Arthur’, the boy, Ubi, Morgo—they had to want something, right? They had to be screwing with her for a reason.

            “I just want to help,” Arthur tried, sincerity in his eyes. “If you’d just come back to Camelot with us, I promise to do everything in my power to help you. You will not be harmed.”

            Perhaps if she went with them, they would take her back to civilisation and she’d be able to escape. If ‘Camelot’ was anywhere near Morgo’s house, she could bolt once they arrived there, find her car, and get home. It wasn’t like she could escape on foot at this moment, anyway. It seemed her choice was already made for her.

            “All right, but you’d better keep your promise,” she warned.

            Arthur smiled, turning round to the younger boy. “Great, you can ride behind Merlin. I’m sure he won’t mind, will you, Merlin?”

            The boy gave her a kind smile. “Not at all.”

            He handed Arthur’s reins back to him, leading his own horse to stand beside Jada. Taking one look at her wide eyes, he chuckled. “You’ve not ridden before, have you?”

            Trying to regain her composure, Jada shrugged. “I’ve ridden motorbikes before. How hard can it be?”

            Merlin frowned. “What’s a motorbike?”

            “Y’know, like a bike… with an engine…”

            He shook his head, apparently still clueless. “No idea, sorry.”

            His expression cleared as he turned towards the horse, using his long, gangly limbs to pull himself up onto it. Definitely still a teenager, Jada thought.

            She had second thoughts when he offered her his hand, wondering how the hell she was supposed to pull herself up behind him. Arthur had approached behind her, however, and was kind enough to give her a boost, allowing her to swing her leg over the horse and settle against Merlin’s back. Automatically, she put her arms round his middle, and she could feel the vibrations in his chest as he chuckled again.

            “You’re not going to fall off, you know. You can relax a bit.”

            “And if I do fall?” she asked, though she loosened her grip a little.

            “I’ll catch you, don’t worry.”

            He kicked his legs and the horse began to move forwards, the movement surprising Jada enough to make her tighten her grip again. Merlin’s chuckle was a sound she was apparently going to have to get used to.

            “So, you’re Merlin, are you?” she asked, ignoring his amusement.

            “That’s right.”

            “You’re a bit… younger than I’d imagined.”

            He turned his head to the side, brows creasing. “What do you mean?”

            “Well, I thought you were supposed to be this bearded old man. Unless you’re, like, immortal, or something?”

            Arthur gave the boy a perplexed expression, which he seemed to return. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand. I think you might have me confused with someone else.”

            “Well, I figured since he’s supposed to be Prince Arthur of Camelot, that would make you Merlin the Wizard.”

            “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Merlin said quickly, at the same time as Arthur broke into laughter.

            “I think you’ve definitely made a mistake there,” the supposed prince remarked. “Merlin can hardly complete basic, ordinary tasks, never mind magical ones.”

            Merlin gave a small chuckle, though it sounded different than his earlier ones, and shook his head at the Prince. He didn’t speak to Jada for the rest of the journey.

            The first time Jada’s sense of reality was harshly shaken was when their riding party rounded a turn in the road. Before them now rose up a grand city, but it was not the skyscrapers and pylons of London that she saw from a distance, nor was it the roar of engines navigating tarmacked roads that she heard.

            As they passed through the gates, she saw more men dressed in mail, emblazoned with a golden dragon and bearing spears. Civilians milled in the streets, chattering to one another—which would have been welcomingly normal had they not all been dressed like people at a Renaissance fair. The roar of engines was replaced by the sound of a wagon being pulled over cobbles and the clatter of hooves in front of it. And in the distance, on the highest point of the city, there was a castle.

            Prince Arthur led the way towards the castle, his riders following him through the streets. Along the way, they passed wooden stalls, thatched houses, and even a tavern. Jada had to admit that Morgo had put a lot of effort into whatever he was doing. It was the only possibility she could bring herself to consider.

            They rode into the courtyard, where each of the cloaked men began to dismount. Merlin swung his leg over his horse’s neck, before dropping to the ground and offering his hands out to Jada. She tried to imitate him, swinging her own leg forwards and sliding off, but the ground seemed farther away than she had first assumed. She stumbled as she hit the ground, but was saved from falling on her face as Merlin steadied her by the shoulders.

            “Thanks,” she tried to laugh it off.

            The boy shrugged. “Told you I’d catch you,” he said, but there was little of the friendliness he’d shown only a short while ago. Instead, he seemed distant, closed off, even. It made Jada frown.

            Arthur, meanwhile, appeared not to notice. “I’ll report back to my father with news of the patrol. Merlin will take you to see Gaius, the court physician.”

            He turned to clap Merlin on the shoulder, addressing the two of them now. “Let me know how you get on.”

            “Yes, sire.” Merlin gave a small bow, before turning and leading Jada towards one of the doors into a side-wing of the castle.

            They passed up one spiralling staircase and through several winding corridors—Jada marvelling the whole time at the authenticity of the castle—before arriving at their destination. Merlin swung the old wooden door open without even bothering to knock and headed inside, Jada trailing after him in bewilderment.

            “Ah, you’re back!”

            An elderly man in a long green robe stood in the middle of a room full of so many knick-knacks and odds and ends that Jada was having trouble focusing on just one part of it. There were bookshelves full to bursting with dusty old tomes, desks covered in a menagerie of manuscripts and bubbling vials, and on the walls hung even more incomprehensible pages that made her brain swim.

            “I need you to go down to the market and- ah, and who might this be?”

            Jada’s thoughts were still lost amongst the clutter of the room, so Merlin answered for her. “This is Jada. We found her in the woods and thought that you should take a look at her.”

            “Very well,” the man nodded, turning his attention now to her. “If you would like to come and take a seat over here…” He gestured to a seat beside a bench, and Jada complied. “My name is Gaius. What seems to be troubling you, Jada?”

            “Uh-” Jada began, but her thoughts were in such a disarray after everything that had happened that her voice failed her. After reorganising her brain, she tried again. “I don’t know. I feel fine.”

            Gaius glanced at Merlin, before his attention returned to her. “No lumps, bumps, or gaping wounds?”

            She shrugged. “Not that I know of.”

            “She seemed disoriented,” Merlin chipped in, before turning directly to her. “Maybe you hit your head?”

            Jada frowned. “No, I don’t think so.” She hesitated a few moments, still trying to piece the situation together. “I think I might have been drugged, though.”

            “Drugged?” Merlin’s eyebrows shot towards his hairline.

            “By whom?” Gaius, apparently the more analytical of the two, asked.

            “A man named Morgo. Don’t suppose you know him?” she added with barely-restrained venom.

            The two shook their heads. Jada wasn’t sure whether she believed them or not.

            “Do you know why he would do such a thing?” Gaius asked.

            Jada scratched at her arm, not sure why exactly she was playing along. “He wanted me to do him a favour. I refused, and tried to leave. Then I blacked out, and woke up in the woods. He gave me some kind of liquid before, though—it was supposed to help with a headache.”

            “What kind of favour?” Merlin asked, leaning forwards and crossing his arms.

            Jada examined the boy for a moment, her feelings murky. She was certain that he was part of Morgo’s game—why else would Morgo have mentioned him by name? —and yet there was something about him that made her question that belief. Finally, she made her decision. “I don’t remember.”

            “It doesn’t matter now, at any rate,” Gaius stated. “You’re safe here. Do you know how to get back home?”

            Jada shook her head. “Not a clue.”

            “Well, where is it you live?”

            “Barnsbury.”

            Gaius frowned. Not a good sign, Jada thought. “Where is that? I don’t recall ever hearing of such a place.”

            “It’s in Islington? About two hours away?”

            The physician shook his head cluelessly. “I’m afraid I’ve no idea. Can you find your way there, at any rate?”

            Worry creased Jada’s brow. “I might be able to, but I don’t know what direction it is. It’d be easier to get back to my car first, only that’s parked outside Morgo’s.”

            “Your car?”

            “Yeah.”

            Gaius hesitated a moment, seeming confused. “Is it something important?”

            “It’s my easiest way home.”

            “And you have no idea how to find this Morgo again, otherwise?”

            She shook her head.

            “Arthur may be able to help,” Merlin suggested. “Maybe he could have the guards search for him?”

            Gaius regarded Jada, but his expression was not hopeful. “No, Uther wouldn’t see the use in declaring a mass hunt for one man, not unless he was considered a threat to Camelot.”

            “But there must be something we can do?”

            Gaius frowned in silence for several minutes, before speaking again. “I’ll go and see if Geoffrey has any record of this…Barnaby?”

            “Barnsbury,” Jada corrected. “Who’s Geoffrey?”

            “He’s the court historian. Merlin, you stay here and keep an eye on her. Come get me if there’s any change, any disorientation or the like.”

            Merlin followed the elder man to the door, nodding along with his instructions. Just as Gaius was about to depart, the boy bent his head towards the physician, murmuring something unintelligible to Jada’s ears. Gaius’ eyes slid towards her, before he too responded in a hushed voice. Jada wished that Merlin’s back wasn’t to her so that she could see his face—perhaps then she could have understood what this strange discussion was about. After some more whispers, the boy shook his head, prompting Gaius to reply with a stern expression, before turning away and shutting the door behind him.

            Merlin turned back to face her, wearing a small smile that he must have thought looked innocent. He seated himself on the opposite side of the bench, folding his long limbs underneath the table and resting his chin in his hand.

            “So, what was that about, then?” Jada asked, nodding towards where the exchange had taken place.

            Merlin looked surprised, as though he’d made a great secret of it, and opened his mouth to try and defend himself. After stuttering a few syllables, he finally settled on; “Nothing.”

            “Yeah, right,” Jada replied sarcastically, raising her eyebrows. She nudged his knee sharply with her own underneath the table. “Go on, tell me.”

            The boy chewed his lip. “I’m not supposed to.”

            “Why? Did I do something awful?” she asked teasingly. “Did I forget to put pants on?”

            She felt her thighs dramatically, as though she were really checking. “No, that’s not it. Have I got something on my face? You’d tell me if I had something on my face, right?”

            As bewildered as he looked, there was a faint smile of amusement on Merlin’s lips. “Yes, I’d tell you.”

            “So what is it then?” she nudged him again, less sharp this time. “Is it something I said? You seemed to go quiet really suddenly before.”

            Merlin’s smile vanished, the amusement in his eyes gone. Bingo.

            “That’s it, isn’t it? But what did I say?”

            “It doesn’t matter.” He stood up quickly, making a beeline for another of Gaius’ desks. He began busying himself arranging the clutter on it, keeping his back to her.

            Jada stood, following him until she was by his side. She couldn’t imagine what could be making him change so suddenly, but she tried to keep her tone jovial.

            “All right, how about this: if you tell me your secret, I’ll tell you mine.”

            Merlin simply shook his head, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

            “I can go first, then, if you’d like?” she offered.

            He gave no response, so she shrugged, leaning against the desk. She may as well play along with Morgo’s little game while she waited for Gaius to return with some sort of answer.

            “Well, I may have missed out a detail connected to Morgo. You see, the favour I was supposed to do for him, well…”

            She frowned, but she seemed to have caught Merlin’s interest, even if he still wasn’t looking at her directly. “Well, I don’t understand most of what he was babbling on about, but there was one thing I do remember. He wanted me to come here because he said I’d find someone called Merlin, who was apparently supposed to teach me magic, or something.”

            Merlin frowned, turning now to face her. “What?”

            Jada shrugged. “That’s what he said to me. But you and Arthur both said I’d got the wrong person, so I suppose I’ve gotta go look somewhere else. You don’t look much like the guy I imagined, anyway.”

            He scoffed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

            “Well, I was picturing some elderly bloke with a big long beard and a pointy hat sort of thing. You look like you’re about sixteen.”

            The boy’s brows furrowed, and Jada had to hide her smile. “I’m eighteen, actually.”

            “Either way, you can’t be him, apparently. Although I was supposed to find him alongside a guy named Arthur. He’s supposed to do some grand and kingly things, apparently.”

            “Where did you hear all this?”

            Once again, Jada shrugged, trying to encourage him to talk. “Some things I got from Morgo, some things I know for myself.”

            Apparently stumped, Merlin leant back against the table too, regarding her with a perplexed expression. Finally, he asked, “What do you need to know magic for, anyway? Uther banned it twenty years ago.”

            Jada felt the shock appear on her face. “He banned it?”

            Merlin nodded, now even more confused. “Anyone caught practising sorcery is executed.”

            At first, Jada only frowned, trying to reconcile the versions of the Arthurian legends she’d known at school with the ones that Morgo’s team were now presenting her with. Then, realisation dawned, and she lifted her hands into the air.

            “Ohhh, that’s why!” She put her hands on her head, turning back to Merlin. “That’s why you looked so afraid, why you went so quiet. You think I might turn you in! Actually, I suppose I almost did.” She imagined if Uther was willing to murder people for magic, then his son and knights were probably of a similar mind-set. “Sorry about that. I didn’t know.”

            “I still don’t understand how you know about me, or what you want,” Merlin frowned, crossing his arms.

            Jada grinned. “So it is you, then?”

            Fear flashed into his eyes again as his tongue sought to save himself. “No, no, I-”

            “It’s all right,” Jada soothed, holding up her hands. “I’m not going to tell anyone. It’s just…”

            She was done playing along, now. It was time for the truth.

            “What?” Merlin asked, once more looking worried.

            “Well, I figured your secret out. That’s not how the game works.” She gave a little pout. “So now you have to tell me another one. I want to know how to get out of here.”

            The boy’s frown deepened. “What?”

            Jada fought the urge to roll her eyes. “Please, you know none of this is real as well as I do. It’s all very impressive, with the costumes and the castles and the characters, but I want to go home now. I need to go home. I have a daughter I need to look after, and I was already supposed to be back hours ago.”

            Of all the confused expressions Merlin had pulled during the short time Jada had known him, this one was the strongest. “What are you talking about?”

            “Look, I don’t know what the hell Morgo is paying you to do all this for him, or what you get out of it, but I’m going to get back eventually. If you help me, I won’t report you when I call the police. Everyone else can go to hell, though.”

            “Jada, I think you need to sit down…” He was trying to move away from her, to guide her back towards her seat, but Jada was having none of it.

            “I need to go home! All I need you to do is point me in the right direction. Morgo never even has to know you helped me.”

            “Jada, I’ve never met Morgo in my life. I’ve never even heard of him!”

            “What are you getting out of this? Huh? What even is the point of it all?” Her voice was louder now, but the boy was refusing to give in.

            “I don’t know what you’re talking about; I’m not getting anyth-”

            “It’s bad enough that there’s one weirdo getting some sort of kick out of this, but there’s a whole group of you! What do you want from me?” There was a hysterical note in her voice now, and Merlin was beginning to look positively terrified.

            “Nothing! I don’t want- I don’t understand!” he insisted.

            “Will you just tell me how to get home?”

            Jada hadn’t realised how close to him she had moved until she saw his wide, frightened eyes flash gold less than a foot away from her own face. Before she even had a chance to understand what was happening, she had slumped forwards, her jaw crashing painfully against his collar as he stooped to catch her. His arms jerked her shoulder up sharply while her eyelids fought against her, closing themselves against her will, and then the world vanished.

Chapter 3 ->

[jessisnotnormalq]

Chapter 1: Favour

Masterlist

“You sure you’ve got everything?” Jada asked, hurrying round the living room to pick up some last-minute items. “Make sure you give her a bottle with her tea. They’re in the fridge at the back, remember to warm it up first, won’t you?”

            “I’m not a complete idiot, you know,” Jim responded with a laugh. “I do have a vague idea what I’m doing. I help my sister with her baby all the time.”

            “You’ll phone me if anything happens, won’t you?”

            He rolled his eyes teasingly. “Yes, Jada. Now if you don’t hurry up, you’re gonna be late.”

            “All right, all right,” she sighed, crouching down to where Emily was playing on the floor. She scooped her daughter up into her arms, planting a kiss in her soft curls. “See you tomorrow, baby. I’ll miss you.”

            Emily gave a little squeal, flashing her a cheeky grin as Jada put her back onto the floor and turned to address Jim again. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Phone me if you need anything.”

            “Stop worrying!” Jim laughed, stepping around Emily to push Jada towards the door. “You’re supposed to have fun. Everything here is under control.”

            “See you tomorrow, Izzy!” Jada called up the stairs as they reached the hallway, hoping her other housemate could hear her.

            Her fears proved unfounded, however, when Izzy's face appeared out of her bedroom doorway. “Have fun!” she called back, waving. “I expect some exciting stories when you return!”

            Jada was unsure what kind of exciting adventures Izzy expected her to have at Ubi’s New Year’s party, but she nodded anyway, turning and heading out into the cold December evening. The last December evening, she realised with a nostalgic twinge as she climbed into her car. The last evening of 2015.

            She reversed out of the driveway, pausing only to hit the start button on her Satnav before she set off. It had been five months since she’d last seen Ubi, when he’d moved out of his student accommodation in the summer and got himself a new place with a friend. The drive would take her forty-five minutes, her Satnav informed her, so she had planned to stay overnight and come home the next morning. However, it would be the longest time she’d spent away from Emily since bringing her home from the hospital eight months ago, and Jada only hoped she could last the night.

            The house was not what Jada had been expecting for a third-year university student with no job. It looked as though it had been built in the Victorian era, with great bay windows and a small wooden porch, and was nestled on the edge of a country park. Despite having donned her best outfit—a red bodycon dress complete with heels she’d not seen for so long she’d had to clear the dust off them—she couldn’t help but feel massively underdressed for such an elegant setting.

            She was soon reassured, however, by the sight of Ubi, who opened the front door wearing a fairly smart-casual shirt and skinny jeans as she was locking her car.

            “Jesus Christ, Ubi,” she began as she made her way onto the porch. “Who’d you have to kill to end up in a place like this?”

            Ubi grinned, taking her coat as she stepped inside. “Nothing to do with me. Morgo’s the one who deals with all the shady stuff. I just stand to the side and look innocent.”

            “Innocent? You?” Jada laughed. “You’re not that good an actor.”

            His smile widened. “Maybe that’s just what I want you to think.” He gestured for her to follow him into the living room, which was full of incredible antique-looking furniture to match the house’s grand exterior.

            “Fucking hell, Ubi, is your friend loaded?” she gaped, but he only chuckled. “What the hell did you have to do for him to let you stay here?”

            “Oh, you know, just the usual. Gotta help him reap the souls of the chosen, etcetera,” Ubi joked, causing Jada to smack him lightly on the arm. “You’re actually here early for once. Morgo’s gone out to get some extra drinks, so guess who gets to help me set up?”

            “Aren’t I lucky?” she replied sarcastically.

            Before long, other people had started to arrive, some of whom Jada recognised from her brief time at university, though most of them she had never seen before. The official start to the party was signalled by the music beginning to play, and soon drinks were being handed round as darkness began to fall.

            It was around midnight when Jada stumbled into the kitchen, drink in hand, to find Ubi leaning against the counter and discussing something in a hushed voice with another man. The two of them looked up as she entered.

            “Jada, come over here,” Ubi called, gesturing to her. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

            Jada did as she was told. “All right, but you better not be trying to set me up with anybody. I swear, I’ve had enough of that from Izzy.”

            Ubi laughed, shaking his head, while the stranger gave a small smile of amusement.

            “No, no, it’s nothing like that,” Ubi assured her. “I just wanted to introduce you to Morgo. Morgo, this is Jada Thorburn.”

            He gestured between them, and the man named Morgo offered his hand.

            “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Ubi has told me so much about you already.”

            Jada snorted. “Nothing bad, I hope?”

            Morgo had an unusual air about him. He regarded her with an unreadable expression, though she couldn’t help but feel slightly unsettled as his eyes appeared to almost look through her. They were partly obscured by his unruly hair, which fell in brown curls across them so that she was only able to see them when he wished her to. He seemed to belong perfectly in the surroundings of such an old and obscure house, but looked positively out of place amongst the people within the current setting. Even his clothes looked wrong; his too-large shirt and rolled up jeans looked as though they must have been borrowed off somebody else.

            “You were in his drama class, yes? A budding actress?”

            Jada nodded. “Had to drop out last year, though.”

            “Oh really? May I ask why?”

            “Had a baby,” she replied, shrugging. “She was premature, so it just seemed easier to quit and focus on her at the time.”

            “A shame,” Morgo shook his head. “I imagine her father is looking after her now?”

            “Nah, my mate is. We live together, so he helps me out when I need it.”

            “Ah, I see.” Morgo nodded thoughtfully, and Jada began to wonder just how much information he was gleaning from her.

            From the living room, one of the guests could be heard shouting above the music. “Ten minutes ‘til midnight!”

            “I’m going back in there,” Ubi announced, swigging the last of his drink before picking up another. “Anybody coming?”

            “Nah,” Jada responded, while Morgo just shook his head. “I’ll be in in a bit though.”

            “All right, see you later, then,” Ubi bid them farewell, before heading back into the party.

            Morgo took a sip of his drink, wrinkling his nose at the taste. “I have a favour to ask of you,” he said after regaining his composure.

            Jada frowned. “What kind of favour?”

            “I need you to trust me.”

            Her frowned deepened, eyes narrowing in suspicion. “No offense, but that seems kind of a shifty thing to say.”

            He chuckled, almost taking another sip from his can before he pulled it away from his lips hastily. “You’re staying here until tomorrow, correct?”

            Jada was starting to wonder if that was such a good idea. “…Yeah?”

            “Good, I will be able to explain more then.” He gave her a broad smile. “For now you should just enjoy the party, I suppose.”

            Now it was Jada’s turn to drink, though she continued to frown at him over the top of the glass. “You’re a bit odd, you, aren’t you?”

            Again, Morgo chuckled. “I imagine so. Ubi seems to believe so, at any rate.”

            “You sure you can’t tell me whatever this ‘favour’ is now?”

            He sighed, waving his hand vaguely. “It would take too long, too many people around.”

            She nodded in neither agreement or approval, screwing her mouth up. “Right. Well, I’m gonna go back in there now. See you some other time.”

            “Of course,” Morgo nodded, though there was a small smile playing on his lips. “Some other time.”

            She made her way back into the living room, re-joining Ubi as the image of Big Ben on the laptop screen began to count down. Why neither Ubi nor Morgo had invested in a TV for the place she couldn’t understand, but that thought was soon pushed aside as the clock began to chime. Suddenly, the sky exploded in a burst of colour, the lights on the London Eye mimicking the fireworks in their own colourful sequence as 2016 burst onto the screen. Jada wished that one day she could see the show in person, perhaps when Emily was bigger and could appreciate it properly.

            She’d had to watch last year’s countdown from her hospital room, keeping her headphones turned low so that it wouldn’t startle Emily. They’d been able to hear it even without the headphones, though, through the window, and Jada could still remember the flashes of colour dancing across the incubator where her one-day-old daughter lay. She’d been so sensitive to loud noises back then; she’d opened her little mouth to croak a protest, though there’d been no cry. She was too little to cry, the nurses had said.

            Jada found herself crying now, watching the fireworks flash onscreen and reflecting on just how much her life had changed in the past year. When Ubi spotted her across the small crowd huddled round his laptop, his face grew concerned, at first. But after she’d explained her very legitimate reasons to him, he’d only shook his head with a smile and decided it was probably time she went to bed.

            The rest of the guests were just beginning to disband as she settled into the spare room, all thoughts of the party already leaving her as she fell into unconsciousness.

            When morning came, complete with a chorus of birdsong and sunlight filtering through the curtains and falling across her face, Jada wished it would piss off. She squinted at the traitorous gap in the fabric, before hauling the covers over her head with a groan. It had been so long since she last got the chance to go out, she’d almost forgotten hangovers existed.

            Eventually, she’d managed to pluck up the courage to face the infernal sun, changing into her spare clothes before heading downstairs to see what the breakfast situation looked like in The Manor.

            She wouldn’t have been surprised to find a professional cook slaving away in the kitchen, but instead she was greeted by Ubi’s ever-cheerful grin as he scrambled some eggs, while Morgo seemed thoroughly invested in the newspaper he held before him.

            “Morning,” Ubi greeted her, prompting Morgo to look up and give her a nod. “How d’you like your eggs?”

            She returned Morgo’s nod with a small smile, before replying. “Uh, scrambled, I guess.”

            “You were right,” Ubi grinned, turning to Morgo and depositing the eggs onto his plate.

            Morgo simply raised his eyebrows at his housemate, before returning his gaze to the paper. “Of course.”

            Jada stretched, sitting opposite Morgo at their small wooden table and rubbing her forehead.

            “Ubi, will you get the remedy I prepared from the cupboard above the sink, please?” Morgo requested, still not looking up.

            Ubi did as he was asked, handing a small black vial to his friend, who in turn held it out for Jada.

            “Take that. It’ll stop the pounding in your head.”

            Jada thanked him, taking the vial and popping the cork out of it. Immediately she was hit with the smell, which she could only guess was the scent of some kind of offal. “Ugh, what is it?”

            “Just a few herbs, really. I’d say it won’t taste as bad as it smells, but…” She thought he smirked, “Probably best to down it in one.”

            She glanced to Ubi, who gave her a reassuring smile. After sighing in resignation, she tilted her head back, trying not to think about the horrific sludge that was passing over her tongue. She spluttered when she finished, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

            “I hope those eggs are nearly done,” she croaked.

            She’d earnt a smile from Morgo, while Ubi chuckled, turning back to his pan. “Just a minute.”

            Morgo’s gaze remained on her, and after a moment he folded his paper up and set it down, intertwining his hands over it. “What time do you expect to be back home, then?”

            “I told Jim I’d be back as soon as I could,” she replied. “Didn’t want to be away too long.”

            “Of course. And are you planning to drive yourself?”

            She nodded. “’Soon as I can.”

            Morgo turned to glance at Ubi, who seemed to be watching them out of the corner of his eye. “Well I’m glad you gave no solid timeframe. That will make things much easier for us, I imagine.”

            Jada frowned, her headache worsening. “You what?”

            Morgo was back to leaning on the table again, his gaze becoming intense. “You’re adopted.”

            Jada snorted at the absurdity of the comment. “You know, I’m really glad you felt the need to tell me that. I’d have had no idea otherwise,” she retorted sarcastically. She caught Ubi’s smirk, though Morgo seemed unamused, so she added, “D’you think I don’t know that?”

            “Did you never wonder who your parents were?”

            “No.”

            The two seemed surprised at her answer.

            “Why not?” Morgo asked.

            She shrugged. “They didn’t want me; why should I waste a single thought on them? Life doesn’t really work like in the films, you know.”

            Morgo’s expression softened. “Your mother did want you. She cared about you very much.”

            She felt her eyebrows raise in challenge. “And you would know?”

            His eyes dropped, his fingernail beginning to scratch at the paper underneath his hands. “I didn’t know her very well. Not at all, really. I only met her once, in passing. The day I saved your life.”

            Jada scoffed again. “You what?”

            Morgo’s eyes returned to her face, his words suddenly coming very fast. “Your mother was killed in a fire. She was staying in an inn in the capital, and you were with her. We were trying to keep an eye on things, to make sure everything was all right. When I saw the blaze I knew I had to go in, that I had to do something. It was too late for your mother, and I’m sorry for that, but then I found you. She’d doused your crib in water, it seemed, which gave me just enough time to get you out. Naturally, I couldn’t keep you here with us, though Ubi tried to argue with me. So we found a nice orphanage for you-”

            “Orphanage?” she interrupted. “What is this, the Victorian era? It’s called an adoption centre.”

            “My apologies-”

            “And what am I, anyway? Fucking Harry Potter? My parents were killed, but you managed to save me in the nick of time? Yeah right, and the next one.”

            Wearing a quizzical expression, Morgo turned to Ubi, who shrugged. “She doesn’t believe you, basically. I told you it would have been easier to keep her with us.”

            “I can’t believe you’re buying into this shit, too,” Jada scowled. “Is this some sort of stupid joke?”

            “No, no,” Morgo said. “I promise you I’m completely serious. I saved your life, gave you to the authorities in this world to be properly adopted, and then Ubi’s been keeping an eye on you recently, until now.”

            “'In this world'?” she repeated. "What are you actually fucking talking about?"

            Morgo sighed in exasperation, rubbing his brows. “You were born in Albion, which is in a separate world to this one. Now, if you’d just co-operate, we’d get through this much faster and then you can go on your merry way.”

            Jada crossed her arms, still scowling, but said nothing.

            “Very good. Now, since I saved your life, you could say you owe me a favour.” Jada wasn't sure she agreed, but Morgo was looking at her expectantly, seemingly waiting for her retort. When none came, he sighed again. “What do you know of the Arthurian legends?”

            A moment passed, before he gave a sound of frustration. “You can talk now.”

            “I did a few projects on them in high school,” she replied with a bitter shrug. “But I don’t see what this has to do with anything.”

            “Well you wouldn’t, would you?” Morgo retorted.

            Ubi snickered, causing the two of them to look back over towards him, still scrambling some more eggs.

            Morgo turned back to her first. “How did they end, the legends?”

            Jada sighed. “Arthur’s killed by Mordred, at the Battle of Camlann.”

            “Not killed, mortally wounded,” Morgo corrected.

            “Fine. Arthur is mortally wounded by Mordred at the Battle of Camlann. Because the distinction is so important.”

            “It is,” Morgo countered. “‘Mortally wounded’ implies that Arthur was not yet dead when he was taken to Avalon.”

            “So?”

            “So, I need you to make sure he doesn’t die.”

            What little patience of Jada’s remained now vanished. “And how the fuck am I supposed to do that?”

            “You need to find a way to heal him. Luckily for you, I know just the right way. But you’ll have to use magic, of course.”

            “Magic? You realise that all of this makes absolutely no sense, right?” She turned to Ubi for help. “Is he on something?”

            “Nope,” Ubi replied. “Magic is real. You might not have realised, but you come from a long line of magic users, dating back for more than four hundred years.”

            Jada changed her focus. “Are you on something?”

            He grinned. “Nope. I’m surprised you haven’t noticed anything yet.”

            “She’d have had no need to,” Morgo interjected, calling Jada’s attention back to him. “But now you do. I’m sending you to study under Merlin. You’ll learn the basics of magic there, but after that you’ll have to move on to a more difficult school of study.”

            Jada laughed. “Oh yeah? And will I be going to Atlantis for dinner, as well?”

            Morgo seemed unamused, so she changed her tone as she rose from the table. “Look, I don’t know what the hell you’re on about, but I am not going to Camelot to learn how to use magic to save a fictional king, all right? Sorry to disappoint, but I’m busy.”

            She turned on her heel, ready to head out the door, pick up her keys, and never return to this house again. Behind her she heard Morgo rise, his chair scraping against the tiles.

            “Morgo, we can’t make her,” Ubi said. “If she doesn’t want to, there’s nothing we can do.”

            She was in the hallway now, about to retrieve her coat from the rack that Ubi had hung it on as the kitchen door behind her swung open again. She was grateful she’d thought to move her bag with the rest of her belongings by the door already. A smooth escape would have been so much more difficult otherwise.

            She bent to pick it up, purposely paying no heed to the figure behind her as she did so, until he said something that she did not expect.

            “Swefe nu.”

            Before Jada could turn to even frown at him, she felt her legs buckle beneath her as the floor rushed to meet her. The last thing she heard before unconsciousness took her was Ubi’s voice of indignation:

            “Morgo!”

Chapter 2 ->