#sir dynadan

[headcanonsandmore]

Kinda love the fact that there’s a Knight of the Round Table who is not only Cornish (like me) but also possibly ace-coded (also like me). 😊😊

[gellavonhamster]

The presence of feminine traits in Dinadan’s own character might give the reader another reason not to take Dinadan’s criticism of love-smitten knights as an argument against the place of women in the world of chivalry. While Dinadan does moderately well in tournaments, he is often gently mocked by his judges too. On one occasion he jousts with Lancelot, who is dressed as a woman, and when Dinadan loses, Lancelot’s squires force Dinadan into female clothing. Later, Dinadan mocks Tristram for losing a tournament to Palomides, but ‘all this langayge Sir Dynadan sayde because he wolde angur Sir Trystram for to cause hym to wake hys speretes, for well knew Sir Dynadan that, and Sir Trystram were thorowly wrothe, Sir Palomydes shulde wynne no worship uppon the morne’ (438/10:72). His plan works as Tristram takes his words to heart, and it is Gareth who guesses Dinadan’s intent, and explains to Tristram: ‘Pardé, sir, he seyde hit for none ylle, for ye ar the man in the worlde that he lovyth beste, and all that he seyde was for youre worshyp’ (441/10:74). Gareth has had plenty of experience of ‘raylynge langage’ (438/10:72) at the hands of Lyonet, and recognises helpful chiding for the sake of ‘worshyp’ when he hears it. Dinadan is the only male character to employ the technique of the chiding damsels. Perhaps he is bemused by the madness of lovesick knights because he has no need for female companions in his life; he already possesses the traits characteristic of female judges of knightly deeds. Coleman suggests that Dinadan’s language is damaging, that ‘used in a good cause, it is nonetheless inherently deceptive.’ She goes on to conclude that Malory’s Dinadan ‘exposes not the superficial silliness of court ritual but the inevitably destructive consequences of human instability.’ Whilst this may be true to some degree, it is important to keep in mind the driving force behind Dinadan’s behaviour; as Cooper has observed, ‘his love for and service of Tristram is his primary motivation.’ Dinadan’s words and actions are generous, they attempt to further the reputation of a comrade, and so they denote fellowship; Dinadan’s language shares all of the attributes of Malory’s chiding damsels.

— Women of Words in Le Morte Darthur: The Autonomy of Speech in Malory’s Female Characters by Siobhán M. Wyatt

[apenitentialprayer]

[T]here was never a man so great that he never failed, nor so wise that he was never made a fool of, nor so good a horseman that he never had a fall.

Sir Dynadan (Keith Baines’s rendition of Le Morte d’Arthur, page 231)

[djemsostylist]

So, I finally finished Le Morte, and it was a ride, let me tell you.  I feel like you can literally feel Malory sitting in the Tower of London, feverish and hallucinating, furiously scribbling this story.  He goes in circles sometimes, he starts stories and doesn’t finish them, and then longest and most drawn out tale he tells is wrapped up in an aside two pages from the end of the entire book after the detour through the Grail Quest.  Since I don’t read Old French and de Troyes only tells bits and pieces of tales that don’t always match up to others (and if Malory was a trip then de Troyes is...there are no words) then the best and most coherent account we have of Arthur is Malory. 

And look, Malory isn’t bad for his time.  His female characters are seriously lacking and his prose is...meandering at best and at times utterly at odds with itself, (to say nothing of the fact that he he categorically refuses to describe anyone) but he establishes a baseline that I think bears following.  

Honestly, the best bits of Malory come in the Book of Tristan of Lyoness (which at least in my version is spelled Tristram), which is not, in fact completely or even mostly about him?  In fact, the biggest part of the story (and frankly the best) is this massive tournament where everyone fights everyone, and also Tristan and Lancelot’s deep and abiding friendship.  Actually, this tale gives us the best of the Round Table, giving us far more backstory and character not only for Lancelot, but other principal knights, including Lamerok, Gareth, Gawain, Paliomedes, and Dynadan.  (Percival, unfortunately, does not really feature heavily in Malory until the Grail Quest, which is both weird and a shame, bc I love Percival).  

TV or movie adaptations (at least prior to 2000) seem to do one of two versions of Arthur.  Either they do T.H. White’s “A Once and Future King” (which I haven’t read but also honestly have no desire to) or Le Morte D’Arthur, which is to say, approximately the first ten and last 20 pages of Malory’s work. (Modern adaptations post 2000 always seem to want to do something ~different, and generally results in, well, a terrible King Arthur story.)

Which, I know endings are hard, but damn does Malory crap out at the end.  Le Morte itself is like an 8th of of the overall story, and is also the least interesting and most contradictory bits.  By the time we get to Le Morte, most of the main crew of important knights are dead (Tristan, Percival, Lamerok), and the ones who aren’t die pretty much right away.  We’re left with Lancelot, Bors, and Gawain to carry the remaining nameless knights, and Modred, who was barely a tertiary character, is suddenly the biggest bad.  It’s not even very consistent internally--Malory makes a point to let us know that Lancelot and Guinevere were lovers for years, but when confronted about seems to pull back and assert that their love was merely courtly, and never quite got physical, but still lead to their shame? 

The point it, that while Le Morte, despite being the thinnest bit of Malory, is the most important bit (Arthur is hardly a tragedy without the betrayals of brotherhood and civil war), without the Book of Tristan or the Tale of Sir Gareth or even the Tale of Sir Lancelot, you don’t get a brotherhood to betray.  Instead, it comes down to Lancelot and Arthur breaking, which is sad I guess except that it’s pretty much only sad for Arthur and Lancelot, and the subsequent civil war seems like it comes out of nowhere.  If Lancelot doesn’t have a huge following of friends (many of whom he knighted personally), then why does civil war break out anyway?  If he doesn’t unwittingly kill Gareth and Gaheris whom he loved, then why does Gawain urge Arthur to fight?  If Gawain isn’t driven by a blood feud, why does Arthur even bother to listen to him to go to France and fight Lancelot?  

I guess what I’m saying is that without the brotherhood inherent in the stories, when all that happens is “Arthur pulls sword, Arthur marries Guinevere, Lancelot and Guinevere fall in love, Arthur dies”, the story itself is, actually, pretty boring.  

[moretreasurewithinarchive]

Headcanon; Sir Gareth

Gareth was devastated when Lancelot vanished and blamed both Guinevere and Elaine, but in some regards, Lancelot as well. Still, he was among the knights who went in search of him. He likely traveled with Brewnor and Dynadan.

[headcanonsandmore]

‘Once and Future’, Chapter Four

Summary:  It turns out, quests to rescue sorcerers from magical forests tend to involve semi-sentient trees. And that's not even counting the death-defying feats and major battles with villainous foes. At the end of all this, maybe Tegan had finally just get to flirt with Nyssa without the constant threat of danger around them? Read on, dear readers, and find out...

Tagging: @squirius @serenbex and @lonely-space-ace

~~~~~~~~~                           Read on FFN.                     Read on AO3. 

~~~~~~~~~

Tegan’s eyes boggled. They were charging along a vast vortex of rainbows. Tegan could dimly hear the sounds of Dynadan’s horse just behind them. The three of them seemed to have escaped their pursuers, but… where had they escaped to?

All around, Tegan could hear a great clanking of ancient chains, mixed with some sort of moan. It sounded otherworldly, and Tegan could not begin to understand how on earth such sounds could be made.

The vortex around them shimmered and…

Tegan’s mouth dropped open.

Along the side of the vortex was… some sort of mirror? But this was not a normal mirror. There was an image of her, stood outside a… a blue box? And Nyssa was there as well, hand-in-hand with Tegan. But the clothes they both wore were strange. Tegan was wearing some sort of… pale pink uniform, while Nyssa was wearing a mixture of trousers and tunic, both in a deep burgundy colour. Nyssa’s hair was long and bushy, with no covering to speak of.

Beside them stood a figure who looked vaguely like the physician Quinque, but he was wearing a strange sort of tunic over a type of woollen garment, with strange striped trousers and… white shoes of some description? A strange brimmed hand was atop his short blonde hair.

As if through a waterfall, Tegan could hear her own voice.

Doc, this doesn’t look much like Heathrow to me…

The Nyssa stood next to Tegan giggled, squeezing their hand.

The Tegan in the image locked eyes with Tegan, and their mouth opened in shock.

That’s me!

Ah, said the version of Quinque. Pocket dimension, I believe…

Oh, look, Tegan; I’m there as well…

The version of Tegan seemed to flush slightly, and they looked down at the hand intertwined with that of the version of Nyssa.

The image faded.

‘Nyssa...’ Tegan gasped, her voice sounding ethereal. ‘Did… did you see that?’

‘Yes,’ Nyssa replied, from just behind him, arms wrapped around Tegan’s waist. ‘Although I do not understand what it meant.’

The rainbow vortex began to dissipate, and the hooves of Tegan’s horse touched onto a hard surface. The clanking of the ancient chains slowly ceased, and Tegan’s ears popped.

Gasping, she slowly pulled on the reins. She could hear Nyssa letting out deep breaths behind her.

The horse slowly came to a stop. They were… where were they?

The ground beneath them was… well, it seemed to have small clouds rolling over it. Not exactly mist, they were too light for that. The very surface of the ground seemed to shine with golden light. Their cloaks floated around them, as if a light wind was blowing.

In the distance, castles stood on hilltops, with great domes. Above, the sky was a dark red as opposed to the normal blue. And, within the sky, were several moons. It was… it was…

‘An… Otherworld?’

Nyssa gave a soft moan behind Tegan, and Tegan reached down, slipping her own hand into Nyssa’s.

‘You okay?’

‘I think so,’ Nyssa replied, very quietly. ‘Are you?’

Tegan shrugged.

‘I suppose,’ they mumbled.

The sound of slowing hooves nearby alerted them to Dynadan’s presence.

‘Distance works differently in Otherworlds,’ the knight said. ‘A few hundred feet here could be a hundred leagues in our reality. I think this is why Lady Fay gifted us this; to help when the route was blocked in our own reality.’

‘So… how do we get out?’ Tegan asked, still clutching Nyssa’s hand. ‘And where will we end up when we do get out?’

‘Let’s work this out…’ Dynadan began to size up the hoofprints of the horses, which were still imprinted on the ground behind them. ‘Ten hoofprints should be about ten leagues in our world so…’

The knight pondered for a moment.

‘Nyssa, if you would be so good as to work the amulet again, we can begin making tracks.’

Nyssa nodded, removing her hand almost reluctantly from Tegan’s. The amulet made the noise once again. Tegan could already hear the sounds of the ancient chains, growing louder and louder.

The vortex once again swallowed them up.

                                                             *

 ‘So… that was lucky.’

Brocéliande lay before them, stretching out from east to west for as far as the eye could see. The moon and stars were both out, giving a small amount of light, although Tegan already found their eyes adjusting to it once again. The rainbow vortex had deposited them barely a few hundred feet of the forest edge, in a small bit of open clearing that separated the forest from the cliffs behind them. Tegan could hear the waves of the channel and felt the icy wind coming off the sea, despite the heat that she would have expected on a summer night. Light barely seemed to penetrate the forest, and Tegan could only make out a few yards under the trees. Beyond that, darkness lay.

Without thinking, Tegan slipped her hand into Nyssa’s. The young woman squeezed softly.

‘Very lucky,’ Dynadan said. ‘I think the amulet may have been designed by Lady Fay to help us travel as quickly as possible.’

‘That’s good,’ Nyssa said, softly. ‘Although-good grief!’

There was the smell of burning and then a small poof of smoke.

‘It vanished!’ Nyssa gasped. ‘Gone!’

Dynadan sighed.

‘I suppose we’re on our own from this point onwards. Lady Fay presumably didn’t have enough magic for it to be used repeatedly.’

The forest loomed above, suddenly even more daunting that it had seemed just a few moment before.

‘Ready?’

Tegan squeezed Nyssa’s hand, and nodded, before climbing down off the horse. She then threw their pack onto her back, and helped Nyssa climb off.

‘Merlin will likely be in the very heart of the forest,’ Dynadan mused, as the three of them tied the horses to an isolated tree at the edge of the tree line. ‘That means we will have to go through the densest parts before reaching our goal. I will do my best to plot a path through the trees, but we may end up separated. If that happens, keep pushing forwards in as best a straight line as you can. With a bit of luck, we should all be able to find each other in the centre.’

Tegan and Nyssa nodded, drawing their cloaks around them.

The forest was as dark as Tegan had expected, but there was just enough light to see a few yards in front. Dynadan pushed ahead, with Tegan bringing up the rear. She kept her hand on her sword, and her eyes darting around. Nyssa walked in the space between the other two, not saying a word.

The trees began to get more and more compact, forcing Dynadan to take a more winding route. The knight did have his sword, but Tegan couldn’t blame him for not wanting to carve a path through the ancient woodland; the trees did not seem like normal trees. They felt… well, almost alive. In the near-darkness, Tegan could almost imagine them staring down at the tree interlopers into this world of brown and green.

Eventually, Dynadan came to a stop in front of a large row of thick bushes. They seemed to stretch in both directions for as far as Tegan could see. There was no way around them. The forest was horribly quiet, and Tegan pulled her cloak closer around her, her hand on Caliburn.

Dynadan turned, nodded at them both, and took out a short sword from his belt. He did not raise it to the bushes, but began to push his way into the bushes. Nyssa and Tegan followed.

The bushes were not easy to push through; twigs snagged and snapped on Tegan’s cloak, and their face was buffeted by larger branches, leaving cuts on her skin. Grimly, she pushed forward, concentrating on following Nyssa, who was pushing ahead barely a foot in front of her. The branches seemed to grow back as soon as Nyssa managed to push through one section, meaning Tegan had to keep pushing with as much force.

Finally, Nyssa burst forth of the last layer of bushes, and Tegan stumbled out after her, emerging into a clearing. Brushing stray bits of twig from her cloak, and already feeling the pain of the cuts to her skin, Tegan focused on the young woman. Nyssa was in much the same state, although she seemed to have used Pridwen to push back the branches and therefore avoiding the amount of cuts Tegan had received.

‘Where’s Dynadan gone?’

Tegan and Nyssa looked around. The knight had completely disappeared.

‘He was just in front of me going through those bushes,’ Nyssa said, eyes widening in alarm. ‘I could have sworn I heard his footsteps ahead of me barely a minute ago.’

Without thinking, Tegan and Nyssa stepped closer to each other, back to back, weapons at the ready. The forest, silent as ever, seemed to stir almost imperceptibly.

‘Tegan?’

‘Y-yeah?’

‘I’m… scared.’

‘Me too.’

‘That’s good; I was worried I was being irrational.’

‘Not at all. It makes sense to be scared here. We just have to keep going despite being scared.’

‘Agreed.’

Their free hands still intertwined, they set off in the direction that Dynadan had suggested.

It was mostly flat, although there were many old tree trunks that they had to climb over. The forest was old, impossibly old. Barely any light reached its floor, and the ground beneath Tegan’s boots was filled with the compost of decaying leaves. There was even a couple things that crunched under her feet with a very guttural sound, but she revolved not to look down, for fear of what she might see.

She was glad of the cloak, as it did protect them from the branches that would have pulled at her skin and clothing otherwise. This forest had clearly not had humans under its trees for a very long time. Maybe it never had.

Tegan and Nyssa pulled back one final branch, and emerged into a clearing of sorts. It wasn’t much lighter than anywhere else around it, but a smattering of light had managed to reach down through the trees. Several upturned tree trunks were languishing on their sides, moss covering their once mighty bark.

There was the tinkle of a small stream running through it. Tegan was just about to suggest they continue on, when Nyssa pulled at her cloak.

‘What?’ Tegan whispered, turning to her.

‘Listen…’ Nyssa whispered. ‘The water… it’s speaking…’

Tegan turned, and cocked an ear towards the water.

Help… help me…

Tegan knew in their heart the person whose voice that was. She couldn’t really explain why, she just knew.

‘That’s…’

‘Yes,’ Nyssa whispered. ‘Merlin. We must be close.’

They followed the stream through the clearing, and found that the trees tended to be less clustered along its banks than anywhere else. Taking care not to step into the water, Tegan and Nyssa continued along beside it. All the while, they could hear the voice of Merlin growing almost imperceptibly louder.

The stream began to dip down a slope, and Tegan had to help Nyssa across the tree roots.

‘Thank you,’ Nyssa said. ‘These trousers do make it a bit easier to move.’

‘Agreed,’ Tegan said, squeezing her hand. ‘I’ll get you another pair after we get back to Camelot.’

Nyssa smiled.

The slope began to even out. Tegan guessed that they had likely entered a small valley of some kind, perhaps the remains of a lake that had once been here. A strange wind seemed to blow, almost as if it was trying to repel them. And, at the very end of the valley stood-

Nyssa let out a gasp.

A very old tree stood before them. Except… it wasn’t so much a tree as the blasted remains of a tree. Huge roots webbed down the side of the hill, wrapping through earth and grass, covered in moss in many places. It seemed almost… unearthly.

A figure was encased in the roots of the tree. They were tall, pale and very tall. Long, white hair had grown haphazardly down to their shoulders. A long, crooked nose stuck out, as if bent in several key places.  The roots of the tree wrapped around their arms, legs and torso, with one particularly thick roots wrapping around their neck. The persons eyes were closed, and Tegan could hear a soft rumble emanating of the roots.

As if they were chains being violently shook.

‘Excuse me,’ Nyssa said, stepping forward slightly, hand still intertwined with Tegan’s. A discarded staff was lying against the tree. ‘Are you… Merlin?’

The figure opened their eyes. Tegan’s breath froze in their throat. The pupils were pale white.

‘I am Merlin,’ the figure said. ‘I… I take it that you are my rescuers?’

‘Er, yeah,’ Tegan replied, stepping up to stand beside Nyssa. ‘Our names are-’

‘The wielders of Excalibur and Pridwen,’ interjected Merlin. ‘Tegan and Nyssa. You took your bloody time, didn’t you.’

‘Oy!’ Tegan exclaimed. ‘Rude! How did you know-’

‘I am Merlin,’ the figure said, chuckling slightly. ‘I’m not completely powerless, even here.’

‘So… the roots are just fancy decoration, are they?’ Tegan said, sarcastically. ‘Enjoying your time off?’

Merlin glared at Tegan.

‘Generally speaking, I don’t normally call people to me,’ they said, tone dripping with irritation. ‘But I could see that you two needed a push in the right direction. This forest can play tricks with people’s minds; I know that better than most.’

‘How did you end up trapped anyway?’ Nyssa asked, as an attempt to placate the sorcerer. ‘The magic must be incredibly powerful.’

‘I trapped myself,’ said Merlin, grimly. ‘The forest uses someone’s magical power against them. It’s… well, it’s a rather embarrassing story.’’

‘Well, we don’t have time for stories,’ Tegan said. ‘We need to get you out of here and back to Camelot. You see, we-’

There was a crash of branches, and Dynadan emerged from the trees. His eyes lit up as he saw Tegan and Nyssa, and hurried towards them.

‘Thank goodness!’ he said, smiling widely. ‘I thought I’d never find you two again! And you’ve found Merlin, even better!’

‘Hello, Dynadan,’ Merlin chuckled. ‘Come to gloat?’

‘Maybe later,’ the knight replied, cheerfully. ‘It is good to see you, old friend. I wished it were under better circumstances.’

‘What are these… tree roots, exactly?’ Nyssa asked, peering at the tendrils. ‘They don’t look naturally occurring to me.’

‘The roots are magical,’ Merlin said, grimly. ‘Why do you think I wasn’t able to free myself?’

‘Well, then why don’t we use a non-magical solution?’ Tegan asked.

Nyssa turned, her mouth widening into a huge smile.

‘Tegan, that’s brilliant!’ she exclaimed. ‘Yes, if magic was what trapped Merlin here, then surely a non-magical solution is the best way to break them free!’

‘Headology, like my old mum used to stay,’ Dynadan said. ‘Someone ought to write a story about that.’

‘Oh, ha ha,’ Merlin said, rolling their eyes as if aware of a joke that Tegan wasn’t familiar with. ‘Can you get me out of here first?’

‘Right…’

Tegan and Nyssa, hands touching, leaned forward and joined Dynadan, pulling at the main root wrapped around Merlin’s torso.

‘C’mon,’ Tegan grunted, feeling her muscles strain against the sheer weight of the ancient knots. ‘Just a bit more…’

There was a flash of light as the root finally gave way.

With the main root gone, Dynadan set to work hacking at the smaller roots around Merlin’s arms and legs. The knight grunted as his sword began to leave large cuts.

‘Now!’ he cried, and Tegan and Nyssa both hurried forward, grabbing the roots and pulling them away from Merlin’s limbs. There was several more flashes of light, and the roots exploded into nothingness.

Merlin awkwardly climbed to their feet, clearly wobbly from so long spent unable to stand. Tegan and Nyssa both grabbed them by the arms, putting the aged sorcerers arms around their shoulders. Gingerly, Merlin wobbled over to the abandoned staff and pulled it upright, using it as a sort of cane.

‘We must get out of the forest now,’ Dynadan said, looking around. ‘I don’t fancy it will make our escape easy, now we have freed its captive.’

‘How long will it take us to return to Camelot?’

‘We don’t have Lady Fay’s gift anymore,’ Nyssa said, eyes wide with worry. ‘It could take weeks- months, even!’

‘Argh!’ Merlin scowled, forehead creased. ‘Camelot is under attack now, I can feel it! We must return faster!’

‘But how?’ Tegan exclaimed. ‘It’s across the sea and most of Britannia, through a ton of unfriendly terrain!’

Merlin thrust up their arms into the air, and opened their mouth.

‘Drakonae!’ They bellowed, speaking with a voice that reverberated through Tegan’s head. ‘Drakonae!’

The words echoed around the clearing, deafening in the silence of the ancient forest. Tegan stared around, worried. What on earth was that supposed to accomplish?

The air above them was suddenly full of the sound of beating winds. For a second, Tegan’s was terrified that the wyrms had found them again. But-

Drakonae.

Drakon.

Dragon.

Tegan’s mouth fell open. Beside her, she could Nyssa gasp in shock, her hand squeezing Tegan’s. Their eyes staring directly upwards, as the branches of the trees above were thrust apart by the huge creatures descending from the sky.

Winged, with enormous tails and bright, clever eyes. The legendary creatures of myth.

Drakonis Nobilis. The noble dragons.

As Tegan’s mouth continued to hang open, four dragons landed before them. The oldest one, seemingly the leader, fixed its gaze on the four tiny figures. The creature’s mouth did not move, but Tegan could hear their voice in her mind.

Merlin, said the dragon. We have missed you, old friend.

‘Likewise,’ Merlin replied, bowing his head. ‘Although I am sorry to call on you like this. We must get to Camelot as fast as possible.’

We will take you.

                                                         *

 Percival wiped his brow, leaning against the wall. He and a few other knights had managed to hold one of the towers by the gate, but their communications with the rest of the citadel had broken down.

The night was going badly so far. While they found been able to down several of the initial wyrm attack, many of them had been able to get through and had landed within Camelot itself. The attackers had then headed straight for the citadel, using covering fire to keep the defenders at bay.

Out of the defenders, only Percival himself was still uninjured. All of his fellow knights had already either been taken inside to recover from wounds.

Well, actually, there was one exception. Mr Benton (Percival didn’t know his first name) was still somehow fine, aside from a nasty cut on the side of his head that he had quickly bandaged himself. The young man was made of sterner stuff that Percival had expected. He had turned up with Mike Yates shortly after the attack had started, but had somehow weathered the attacks with a determined earnestness. Yates, meanwhile, had been knocked unconscious by fallen stones about two hours previously, and had been taken inside by Benton, who had triaged his wounds and bandaged the aristocratic man as best he could.

If they all survived this night, Percival had a half mind to take Benton on as a squire; he was a man who certainly held up well under difficult odds.

‘Percival!’

He turned, wearily. Barbara was hurrying up the ramparts. She looked worried but otherwise unhurt. She stopped at the top of the stairs, slightly out of breath. Dynadan hurried towards her.

‘Are the civilians evacuated?’

‘Yes,’ replied the maid, wiping the sweat from her brow. ‘We managed to get them all into the caves. I don’t know how long they’ll be safe for, but we will have to hope.’

Percival nodded.

‘It seems as if the invaders had no interest in attacking the city,’ he mused. ‘They made a beeline for the castle itself, barely even bothering with the civilians.’

‘Is that a good thing?’

‘If it means less people have died, yes. But I worry that it is not out of kindness.’

Barbara looked up at the castle. Several fires were visible from the upper ramparts, but they had no way of knowing whether the defenders were still holding out or not.

‘Percival, is there any hope?’

‘I do not know,’ he said. ‘But we can hope regardless.’

                                                           *

 Tegan had to admit, this was certainly an exhilarating way to travel.

The channel beneath them, Tegan could feel the wind whipping through her -his, their- short hair. The air around them was cool for the summer night, but Tegan found herself unable to feel cold. The dragon’s hide was surprisingly warm, and their wings beat fast and energetic a few yards ahead of where Tegan was sat astride their enormous back. Nyssa’s arms were once again wrapped around Tegan’s waist, and she could hear the young woman gasping with amazement as the dragon carrying the two of them barrelled through the sky, their cloaks flapping behind them in the wind.

In front of them, Merlin and Dynadan were being carried by the oldest of the dragons. Merlin’s staff was glowing with light, shining a path ahead. While the coast of Britannia was not visible yet, Tegan was sure that it would only be a matter of time before they cleared the channel and would be flying across land due North-West towards Camelot.

‘Fantastic!’ Tegan exclaimed, mouth wide open with a huge grin. ‘Nyssa, look at the sea below us!’

Nyssa gripped Tegan tighter around the waist.

‘I’d rather not!’ she gasped, over Tegan’s shoulder. ‘I-oooh, no!’

The dragon beat their wings harder, and they rose higher, catching a strong wind and gliding with it, like a bird. Tegan let out an admiring whoop! as they descended down again. Behind her, she could hear Nyssa gasping ‘oh I don’t like it, I really don’t this… oh, dear…’, pressing closer to Tegan as they fell sharply through the air.

‘What’s your name?’ Tegan asked, speaking to the dragon carrying them.

It is unable to pronounce with your mouths, replied the dragon, in Tegan’s mind. Judging from Nyssa’s further gasp, they were speaking in her mind as well. But you may call me Nightbane.

‘Thank you, Nightbane!’

You are most welcome, little ones, replied Nightbane, and Tegan could have sworn she heard fondness within their voice. Are you both warm?

‘Yes,’ said Nyssa. ‘But could you warn us the next time you move around?’

Nightbane seemed to chuckle.

My apologies, replied the noble dragon. Your companion seemed to enjoy it.

‘I do!’ Tegan exclaimed, laughing. ‘But Nyssa is right; we haven’t been carried by a dragon before and we don’t want to fall off by mistake!’

Very wise, Nightbane replied. Your companion has good sense, Tegan of the Cornish.

‘She sure does!’ Tegan grinned, and enjoyed the feeling of Nyssa nuzzling into her shoulder. ‘Oh, look; we’ve embarrassed her!’

‘Stop it!’ Nyssa giggled.

Nightbane chuckled again. Behind her, in the periphery of her vision, Tegan could just about make out the sunrise in the east behind them.

‘We’ve got a long way to go!’ Nyssa said, speaking to Nightbane. ‘Are we going to make it to Camelot in time?’

Us noble dragons have a certain magic of our own, replied Nightbane. We take our inspiration from the stars. You may want to hold on tightly, little ones.

‘What do you-ooohhhhh!’

Nightbane began to beat their wings faster and faster, so much that the sky around them became a blur. Around them, the dragons flying were doing the same.

Tegan grasped the scales of Nightbane’s broad back, and pressed down. The wind became a roar. All other sounds were blocked out, except for the beating of her own heartbeat and the heartbeat of Nyssa, who was pressed tightly against Tegan’s back, her arms wrapped firm around Tegan’s waist.

The roar of the wind grew loader and loader. Tegan didn’t know how fast they were going; instead, Tegan just hoped that they would all reach Camelot in time.

                                                              *

  A wyrm soared down from the skies, spitting venom and heading straight for the tower.

‘Incoming!’ Percival exclaimed, pushing Barbara into the relative safety of the tower staircase before running along the ramparts.

‘Working on it, sir!’

Benton was at the catapult, his earnest face gleaming with sweat from the effort of holding the thing steady. It had been partially broken by the initial assault, and was now only partially operational. But that didn’t seem to effect Benton’s aim.

BAM!

The wyrm let out a screech as the load of Greek fire hit it. With a crash of flailing limbs and hissing venom, it landed in the courtyard in a burning wreckage. Percival didn’t know much about wyrms but, judging from what he had seen tonight, they seemed to be constructs of dark magic as opposed to living creatures. That didn’t make him feel much better about killing them, of course. But you weren’t supposed to feel good about it in the first place.

‘Well done, Benton!’ Percival exclaimed.

Benton grinned wearily for a second, before the smile slid off his face.

‘Sir; watch out!’

Percival turned to where Benton was pointing. Another group of wyrms were flying down at them out of the sky. Without thinking, Percival ducked, as the venom began to rain down around them.

‘Take cover!’ he cried, hearing the hiss of dissolving stone where the venom had fallen. ‘Wait for them to get close again and launch more fire!’

‘We’re down to our last three loads, sir,’ Benton said, wiping his brow with a weary arm.

‘Right,’ Percival said, grimly. ‘In that case, I’ll lure them out and you see if you can get them with one load all at once.’

‘Sir, that’s suicide!’

‘I know! But… it’s our only option. It’s been an honour to fight with you, Benton; good luck.’

Percival gave a quick salute, which Benton returned, eyes glistening with tears. Percival nodded, and turned, pulling the sword from his scabbard.

‘Oi!’ he yelled up at the flying creatures above, who swirled round ready for another dive-bomb. ‘Bird-brains; over here!’

The wyrms gave a horrible massed shriek of glee, before diving down through the sky. Percival charged forwards along the ramparts, trying to position himself so that the catapult could catch all the wyrms in a single strike.

‘Come on!’ he yelled, brandishing his sword. ‘Have a go if you think you’re hard enough!’

Another shriek, as the wyrms descended.

Percival raised his sword towards the sky.

‘Camelot, to me!’

BOOOOOM!

The ground shook beneath his feet, and the wyrms seemed to wobble in the air. A second later, they gave another shriek but, this time, with terror. They swerved, distracted.

‘Now, Benton!’

The Greek fire launched, flying a few feet over Percival’s head and crashing straight into the wyrms. The creatures gave a hideous final scream, and crashed to the floor of the courtyard below.

‘Sir!’ Benton exclaimed, running forward. ‘Thank goodness!’

‘I thought I was a goner there!’ Percival exclaimed, pulling the man into a one-armed embrace. ‘Excellent aim, man!’

‘Thank you,’ Benton said, grinning. ‘I wouldn’t have been able to if they hadn’t gotten distracted by the blur on the horizon.’

Percival stared at him.

‘The what on the horizon?’

Benton pointed upwards into the sky at an angle, over the ramparts and towards the eastern horizon.

Percival’s eyes followed, and his mouth promptly dropped open.

‘By my fathers bones…’ he gasped, in awe. ‘What on…’

The blur grew closer and closer. There was another loud boom and four dragons appeared at the other end of the valley, upon the largest of which was stood a figure in white, their long hair streaming out behind them in the wind. The first signs of the sunrise were just behind them.

‘Merlin!’

The dragons, huge and magnificent, landed on the massive ramparts, and their riders slid off, landing on the cracked stone of the courtyard.

Percival, Benton next to him, hurried forwards. Merlin, eyes bright and alive, stumbled where they stood. Master Tegan, with Miss Nyssa by their side, was stood, thanking the dragon that had carried them, their cloaks flapping in the breeze. And Dynadan was stood next to Merlin, putting down his visor as he stared round at the citadel before them.

‘Am I glad to see you, my friend!’

‘Likewise, Percival!’ Dynadan exclaimed, clapping his friend on the shoulder. ‘But how goes the battle?’

‘Badly! Mordred’s forces have already pushed through the citadel; I think they have made the castle their main objective!’

Merlin gripped their staff, eyes containing flickering light.

‘I need to reach the tree,’ they said, wobbling slightly where they stood. ‘We don’t have much time.’

At this moment, Barbara hurried forward, pushing past the knights and throwing a maternal pair of arms around Miss Nyssa.

‘Nyssa!’ she exclaimed, her eyes wide with worry. ‘Are you alright?’

‘I’m fine,’ Miss Nyssa said, as the older woman gripped her softly by the shoulders. ‘Please, Barbara; where is the queen and king?’

‘They are in the castle; we haven’t been able to reach them since the attack happened.’

‘We need to break through,’ Dynadan said, turning to Merlin. ‘Do you have much magic?’

Merlin shook their head, before placing a hand on the head of the dragon that had carried him and Dynadan. There was a brief moment of silence.

Merlin nodded, as if having had a conversation with the dragon entirely through their minds.

‘The noble dragons will blast us a path through Mordred’s forces into the castle,’ they said. ‘But they cannot win the battle for us; we must reach the tree and defend Arthur. Tegan, Nyssa; the sword and shield found their way to you for a reason. That reason is for the task ahead of us.’

Tegan and Nyssa turned, nodded to each other and hurried forward, their weapons drawn. With a snap of broaches, their cloaks landed on the stones beneath their feet. Percival could have sworn that the sword and shield seemed to glint in the half-light of the pre-dawn.

With a cry, the dragons took off, heading directly for the main entrance to the castle. There was an almighty boom, followed by the sounds of more wyrms exploding.

‘Let’s go,’ Dynadan said. ‘Percival, Benton; we’ve got wyrms to defeat.’

                                                     *

 The scene that met them at the inner castle wall was of utter carnage. Everywhere was the wreckage of battle, although Tegan could make out no casualties thus far. However, there were numerous gaps in the stone wall, and tattered banners hung limp from the shattered windows of buildings nearby. There were also several craters in the cobbles, filled with the venom of dissolving wyrms, as the dark magic that sustained their forms was destroyed.

Dynadan was a few yards ahead, with Merlin at his side. Percival and Benton brought up the rear.

‘I need to find the king; Percival, come with me!’ Dynadan exclaimed, turning to Tegan and Nyssa. ‘You two and Benton get Merlin to the tree!’

The two of them nodded. As Percival and Dynadan hurried away towards the castle, Benton joined Tegan and Nyssa where they stood.

‘Do you have a weapon?’ Tegan asked.

Benton held up a short staff, and then picked up an abandoned shield off the ground.

‘I’ll do my best.’

Tegan and Nyssa nodded.

‘That’s all we can do, in the end.’

Merlin staggered, wobbling again.

‘I…’ their voice quavered as they spoke. ‘I’m getting weaker. Mordred must have found the tree; we must hurry…’

Tegan and Nyssa quickly pulled Merlin’s arms over their shoulders, and hurried forward, half-supporting half-carrying the aged sorcerer with them, Benton at their side, shield at the ready. They must have looked a rather strange group, but Tegan found it difficult to care that much, given the gravity of the situation that awaited them in the castle.

‘Mr Benton, you go on ahead and scout out the danger,’ Nyssa said. ‘We’ll be no good in a fight like this.’

Benton nodded and hurried around the next corner. He returned a second later as they approached, his face pale.

‘It’s bad,’ he said, easing Merlin to the floor so as to give Tegan and Nyssa a breathing space. ‘I couldn’t see the king anywhere, but the central courtyard is full of fighting.’

Their brow covered in sweat, Tegan approached the corner and peeked around it. His blood seemed to turn to ice in their veins.

The central courtyard was in complete chaos. Parts of the castle wall had caved in, and several large piles of rubble were scattered around on the stones. The place was covered with various people, all fighting tooth and nail. She couldn’t make out a word of anything that was going on, as so many people were shouting and the clash of weapons upon weapons was almost deafening. Tegan could hear the shrieks of wyrms and the howls of humans, including yells of “akiya!” from Tribus, his white curly hair ruffling as he sent his enemies flying with strikes of his hands and feet.

She hurried back to the others.

‘Merlin, we need to get you to the tree,’ Tegan said, speaking to the sorcerer, who was looking paler and paler by the second. ‘How long do you think you have left before it dies?’

‘Very little time,’ they replied, gravely. ‘Please…’

Benton eased Merlin’s arm over his own shoulder, helping them to their feet.

‘Benton, can you help Merlin to the tree?’ Nyssa asked. ‘Tegan and I will try to keep any attackers at bay.’

Benton nodded, his earnest face lined with exhaustion but still determined nonetheless.

‘Tegan?’ Nyssa said, as she hauled Pridwen off her back. ‘I don’t know how good I’ll be, but… I’ll protect you as best I can.’

‘Same here,’ Tegan replied, removing Caliburn from the scabbard. ‘Until the end.’

‘It won’t come to that. But thank you. For everything.’

Nyssa smiled at Tegan, her eyes blazing with a fierce pride despite the exhaustion she was clearly feeling. Tegan’s heart ached as she smiled in reply.

The four of them turned the corner, emerging into the courtyard. The din of battle quickly surrounded them, their eyes becoming used to the clangs of metal against metal and the screams and cries of the many different combatants.

A man charged towards them, and Tegan pushed Benton out of harms’ way. Nyssa slammed Pridwen against the assailant, before retreating and allowing Tegan to strike the figure with Caliburn. The man seemed to explode into green flame as the weapon touched him. A few moments later, there was nothing but ash on the stones where he had stood.

‘Another one of Mordred’s dark magic creations,’ Nyssa gasped, looking around. ‘Where’s Merlin and Benton?’

‘I don’t know,’ Tegan replied, wiping sweat from their brow. ‘The last I saw, Benton was knocking out someone with his staff-’

There was a crash of a window, and a figure fell through it.

It was Arthur. He was wearing armour and, as he scrambled to his feet, Tegan was alarmed to see that he was clearly the worse for wear. It seemed as if he had wounds in both legs, because he seemed barely able to stand.

SCREECH!

‘No!’ Merlin cried, as an enormous wyrm appeared from above, heading straight for Arthur Pendragon. Tegan’s breath caught in her throat.

But, at the last moment, one of the dragons soared in, snapping a wyrm out of the air and preventing it attacking Arthur, who had managed to dive out of range.

However, barely a few seconds passed before another figure leaped out of the broken window and rushed forward towards Arthur with their sword raised.

Barely a second later, Arthur was locked in combat with the figure, who was clad in black armour. There was a crash, as Arthur knocked off his foe’s helmet, revealing a face clenched in anger, but with eyes that Tegan recognised.

The son of Lady Faye; Mordred.

‘Arthur…’

Merlin had staggered forward, half-supported by Benton.

‘Merlin, you can barely walk!’

‘The magic is almost depleted,’ Merlin said, shakily, pointing at the tree. ‘Look… barely three leaves remain…’

Tegan’s heart dropped. Sure enough, the tree was almost entirely bare. A few, decayed leaves were still connected to one half-broken branch. They were almost out of time. So close but so far away at the same time!

Tegan locked eyes with Nyssa. The young woman stared at her, and time seemed to slow around them.

Their faces nodding in unison, Tegan and Nyssa turned, wielding their weapons and charged forward towards the tree. Through the mass of forces ranged against them.

What happened next, Tegan couldn’t entirely recall. All they were really aware of was the swords that clattered off Pridwen and Caliburn, that her body moved on its own occasion, dodging and dancing out of the way of blows, and of himself knocking out the people who aimed to cause harm to themselves and to the brave wonderful woman fighting next to her. Nyssa. They were in-sync, completely and utterly, working like a well-oiled machine, as swift as a running river and as smooth as the softest silk. Their movements complimented and enhanced the other. Tegan had no way of knowing whether it was due to the magic of the shield and sword finally coming into its own, or if this was simply due to themself and Nyssa. All she knew was that she would protect this woman forever. And Tegan knew, without even needing to ask, that Nyssa was thinking the exact same thing about Tegan.

Their bodies arched around each other, sword and shield perfectly balanced between them, Tegan’s reach reinforced by Nyssa’s support, and vice versa. Their enemies fell back in a wide arc, unable to intrude on this dance of two equals working together to save each other. Eternally and always, saving each other.

All of this seemed to happen in barely a few seconds.

Tegan and Nyssa came to a stop, back to back, weapons raised in front of them, and their mouths breathing heavily. They stared round at the constructs of knights of black armour that were already turning to smoke and dust in a huge arc around them.

Wait, where was Arthur? Come to think of it, where were all the other knights who had been there? How long had Tegan and Nyssa been fighting for? It had felt like barely a few moments.

CLANG!

There was a crash as Benton was thrown backwards towards them. Nyssa barely managed to pull Tegan out of the way, before Benton -flying through the air at the speed of a galloping horse- crashed through a window behind them.

‘Benton!’

‘I’m alright…’ came the reply, as the man struggled back to his feet. He climbed back through the smashed window. ‘But… no, Merlin!’

There was a crash and a moan of pain.

Merlin fell to the ground, their face a bloody mess. Mordred strode across the courtyard. Tegan and Nyssa, with Benton just behind them, scrambled forwards, staring in horror at the scene before their eyes.  

‘Shame you had to come back,’ Mordred growled. ‘I was just getting into the swing of things here, but you always were a wily one, Merlin…’

‘Foolish boy…’ -Merlin pulled themselves up to their elbows- ‘You have no idea what you are doing…’

‘Oh, I do,’ replied Mordred. ‘Once I get rid of you, Camelot will finally be mine. Arthur can wait; I’ll kill you first, and I’ll enjoy it all the more when I finally kill Arthur, as he knows his golden age has finally been destroyed-’

‘No!’

Mordred was blasted back a few feet, and a figure charged inbetween the two combatants.

Morgan Le Fay was stood, her arms shielding the aged sorcerer, who lay exhausted on the ground behind her. Her eyes were wide and earnest, hair flying loose as her hair covering fell away. The stones crackled underneath her feet, as if she was willing Camelot itself to protect Merlin, forming a barrier between herself and her wayward son.

‘Mother,’ Mordred growled, stepping forward. ‘Get out of my way.’

‘No!’ Lady Fay exclaimed. ‘You will not harm Merlin!’

Mordred raised a hand, and a man in armour -much like the one who had attacked Tegan and Nyssa earlier- hurried forward, using his lance to force Lady Fay away.

Benton hurried forward, joining Lady Fay to engage the man in combat. The three of them crashed through a nearby window.

‘Your tree, wasn’t it, Merlin?’ Mordred said, striding over and pinning Merlin to the ground below it, his sword at the aged sorcerer’s throat. ‘You told me all about me during my apprenticeship. But it seemed you couldn’t quite reach it in time. Failed at the final hurdle, I’m afraid.’

Mordred’s eyes glinted, and drew back his sword.

‘Goodnight, Camelot!’

His sword blurred through the air.

Blood spattered across the stones and onto the bark of the tree.

There was a sickening thump of flesh against stone. Merlin slumped down on the shattered ground, the front of their robes beginning to soak red. They gave a gasp, and more blood spluttered out of their mouth. Their head rolled, eyes falling back in aged sockets.

There was a horrible, very dark, moment of silence.    

‘Such a shame,’ Mordred gloated, his eyes bulging as he turned to face Tegan and Nyssa.

‘Yes,’ Tegan and Nyssa replied. ‘For you, that is.’

Mordred’s eyes looked quizzically at them, confused.

‘But… Merlin…’

‘You idiot,’ Tegan said. ‘The connection was between Merlin and the tree; and what did you just do?’

Mordred’s eyes widened in dawning realisation. The armour-clad man swung around, as a blinding light enveloped the tree, shining like a beacon to all the world. Mordred stumbled, seemingly blinded. Tegan and Nyssa shielded their eyes, as a figure appeared before the light.

Merlin was on their feet, their face alive with joy and their limbs powerful. The staff was no longer a walking cane, but a weapon. The light of the tree reflecting off the sorcerer’s white hair.

The sun finally peaked over the horizon. Its light glinted off Caliburn and Pridwen, causing them to shine as if gold. Nyssa caught Tegan’s eye, and the two of them charged forward towards the startled Mordred, who had been staring at Merlin in complete shock.

Tegan swung Caliburn, sending Mordred back. Barely a second later, giving him no let-up, Nyssa lunged forward, forcing Pridwen against his throat.

Mordred fell backwards, tripping over the shattered stones of the courtyard beneath him.

Merlin slammed their staff down on the front of Mordred’s armour, which disintegrated around him in a flash of black smoke. The man was left, lying on the ground, wearing a dark shift and trousers. With a snap of their fingers, Merlin sent chains around Mordred, trying him in place.

‘You know, for Merlin’s old apprentice,’ Tegan said, looking down at the man, who was already struggling against his bonds. ‘You don’t know much about magic, do you? Half your constructs disappear after a couple of strikes.’

Mordred glared up at them all, brow furrowed in anger.

‘Merlin, my old friend…’ came a voice from behind them.

Tegan turned. Arthur was walking towards them, supported by Lady Fay and Benton. The man was tired but was otherwise unharmed. His wounds from earlier seemed to already be healing due to the return of Camelot’s magic.

Tegan could practically feel the magic in the air; it was strange and otherworldly, and yet surprisingly comforting. Like a warm stew after a hard day working in the fields of her parents farm back home.

She turned to Nyssa, and they could see her own amazement reflected on the young woman’s face. Her cheeks dimpled, and she reached out, squeezing Tegan’s hand gently. Tegan could already feel her exhaustion slowly leaving her, although she knew that she would still need a good nights rest after all this.

‘It is good to see you again,’ replied Merlin, as Arthur pulled them into a joyous hug. ‘I am sorry I could not arrive back any sooner.’

‘No matter,’ Arthur said, grinning as he stared at his old friend. ‘It is more than enough to have you returned at all.’

‘Hang on,’ Tegan exclaimed, pointing at him. ‘Where did you disappear off to? Weren’t you fighting Mordred?’

Arthur chuckled, not seeming to notice Tegan’s rudeness.

‘Bit of a trick Merlin taught me back in the day,’ he said. ‘It sent me through into the room where Morgan and Mr Benton were fighting one of Mordred’s creations.’

At that moment, Guinevere, with Barbara by her side, emerged from the nearest doorway. Barbara let out a cry of delight, and ran to hug Nyssa.

‘Are you alright, dear?’ she asked, maternally. Around them, knights and various hangers-on were emerging from doorways, having presumably defeated Mordred’s forces in other parts of the castle. ‘Oh, you’re all covered in sweat…’

‘I think I am rather in need of a good bath,’ Nyssa chuckled, before nudging Tegan with her elbow. ‘What say you, Master Tegan?’

Tegan blushed, as Barbara gave a knowing smile.

‘Perhaps later,’ Tegan said. ‘Good grief, I need a rest before anything else.’

‘You both have been very brave,’ Barbara said, now squeezing Tegan’s shoulder with a supportive hand. ‘I’m sure no-one could deny you some time to relax-’

‘Arthur!’ Mordred growled, face like thunder as he was hauled to his feet by two knights that Tegan did not know the names of. ‘You know as well as I do that your precious golden age will come to an end, and that you are prophesied to die at my hands at Camlann!’

‘True,’ replied Arthur, nodding. ‘But that day is not today. And you know fully well that you will die by my hands at that same battle.’

Mordred grunted.

‘Seems kinda counter-intuitive to me,’ Tegan muttered, so that only Nyssa could hear it. ‘I mean, doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of him trying to seize the kingdom?’

Nyssa giggled.

As Mordred was led off, Arthur scratched his head and put an arm around Guinevere.

‘Well,’ he said. ‘Merlin is back with us, and the tree is restored. It’s good to see that Dynadan has… wait, where is your knight, Master Tegan?’

‘Er…’ Tegan said, looking around through the assembled knights and hangers-on. However, a few seconds later, Dynadan emerged out of a staircase, pushing a man in manacles in front of him.

‘My apologies for my delay, sire,’ he said. ‘This sniper was up next to a second-floor window; couldn’t risk him taking a shot while you were all congratulating everyone.’

‘You have my thanks, Dynadan,’ Arthur replied, chuckling, as the sniper was led away by a couple of knights. ‘Your apprentice has done wonderfully; Guinevere and I both agree that you ought to be proud of this young man.’

‘Oh, yes,’ Dynadan said, turning and winking knowingly at Tegan and Nyssa. ‘Very proud indeed.’

Guinevere, on the other hand, had turned to face Nyssa. Her mouth had fallen open.

‘Nyssa, are you wearing… trousers?’

Nyssa looked down, as if confused by the question.

‘Er… yes,’ she said, a little perturbed. ‘They are easier to wear whilst on horseback, you see.’

‘But… Nyssa, you are a handmaiden!’

‘My lady, I don’t follow.’

‘Trousers, Nyssa; trousers!’

Even Arthur looked a little bashful.

‘Guinevere, dear, I really don’t think now is the time to criticise your handmaiden’s sartorial choices-’

‘If not now, then when?’ Guinevere exclaimed, still staring in apparent horror at Nyssa. ‘Nyssa, do you realise-’

‘Oh, this is bloody stupid!’ Tegan exclaimed, putting a hand on Nyssa’s shoulder and squeezing. ‘Nyssa has helped save Camelot; no-one cared that she was wearing trousers half an hour ago!’

‘Be that as it may,’ Guinevere said, ignoring Arthur and Merlin’s matching nods of agreement with Tegan. ‘As a handmaiden of my household, she is duty-bound to uphold the morality of-’

‘Morality?’ Tegan exclaimed, not remotely caring that she was technically interrupting the queen. ‘Trousers are just clothes, you stupid-’

‘Do not talk back to me, Master Tegan!’ Guinevere exclaimed. ‘Or I’ll have you on a charge, young man! Nyssa is a woman wearing trousers-’

‘So am I!’

The words were out of Tegan’s mouth before she had really realised what she was saying. There was a very pregnant pause, which birthed several more pauses.

‘Oh, Tegan,’ Nyssa said, very softly, eyes widening in realisation as she turned to look at her. ‘Don’t-’

‘No,’ Tegan replied, softly. ‘If they can’t handle you wearing trousers, then I may as well pack up and go home now.’

Giving Nyssa a quick, comforting smile, Tegan turned to face the king and queen.

‘Yeah, you heard me!’ Tegan exclaimed, eyes darting from Arthur and Guinevere. ‘About as shocking as a man wearing a kilt!’

She could hear a supportive “aye” from someone -presumably, the Caledonian- in the crowd, and continued, feeling emboldened.

‘Trousers are trousers, regardless of who wears them!’ Tegan exclaimed. ‘I’ve got a pair of old socks stuffed down the front; did any of you lot notice until now? Of course not!’

Tegan thrust her hand down into his trousers and pulled out the socks. With a dismissive glare, he threw them at Guinevere’s feet.

‘It’s just a pair of socks,’ Tegan said. ‘But it was apparently enough to stop everyone from noticing!’

‘Well, admittedly, I knew,’ Dynadan said, cheerfully. ‘I didn’t want to say anything; it’s your business, after all.’

‘I… okay, thanks,’ Tegan replied, a little surprised. ‘And that’s why you were fine with me sharing a room with Nyssa?’

‘Actually, I thought you were courting-’

‘Nevermind all that!’ Guinevere exclaimed, as Tegan flushed scarlet, avoiding Nyssa’ eyes. ‘It is still a matter of-’

‘Actually…’

Percival stepped through the crowd, a hesitant but calm look on his face.

‘If we’re going primarily by who’s wearing what, and if Camelot is offended by a woman wearing trousers, then what about me wearing armour?’

Tegan’s mouth fell open.

‘I do prefer being a man,’ Percival continued, his eyes alert and earnest. ‘No-one seemed to have any issues with it when I joined up.’

Tredecim and Yasmin stepped forward, hand in hand.

‘If we’re talking being a woman and being a man, I’d rather be neither,’ said Tredecim, matter-of-factly.

‘And I love them regardless,’ said Yasmin, before pressing a kiss to the blonde’s cheek.

‘Bravo!’ said Dynadan, clapping.

‘And, if I may be so bold…’

Barbara stepped forward, turning to Guinevere.

‘I prefer being a woman to being a man,’ she said, smiling softly. ‘And Ian certainly never complained.’

Guinevere goggled at her.

‘I… I don’t know what to say.’

‘“Have a day off” wouldn’t be a bad start.’

There was an outbreak of repressed laughter amongst the crowd, particularly amongst the physicians.

‘Humans have always been complicated,’ Merlin said, calmly as they stood hand-in-hand with Lady Fay. ‘So, maybe we shouldn’t be too bothered by those complexities? Eh, Guinevere?’

Guinevere looked from Merlin, to Arthur, and then briefly on Tegan, before eventually returning her gaze back to Nyssa.

‘Yes,’ Guinevere said, softly. ‘Maybe my reaction was… uncalled for. Nyssa, you have my apologies.’

Nyssa nodded, looking somewhat surprised.

‘If I may speak with you for a moment,’ Guinevere continued, stepping forward and placing a hand on Nyssa’s shoulder. ‘I believe we ought to discuss some matters…’

Nyssa smiled at Tegan quickly, before being led a short distance away by the queen. Tegan was then clapped on the shoulder by Dynadan, and then immediately after by Percival, followed by several of the other knights that Tegan had not been properly introduced to.

‘Congratulations,’ Dynadan was saying. ‘You’ve more than exceeded my expectations; didn’t I say you’d do well?’

‘That is true,’ Tegan replied, a little bashfully. ‘I take it that I can continue as your apprentice despite… well…’

‘Of course!’ the knight exclaimed, cheerfully. ‘In fact, given how well you showed your tenacity and quick-thinking during the rescue of Merlin, I’d say we can make you a full squire before too long!’

‘Are… are you sure?’

‘Absolutely!’

Tegan looked over to where Guinevere was still talking to Nyssa. Given the mass of people, Tegan couldn’t hear a word the queen was saying.  Guinevere whispered something into Nyssa’s ear. However, to Tegan’s surprise, Nyssa’s face flushed scarlet.

Guinevere walked away, slipping an arm through her husbands. The king, with his closest knights and sister around him, led his queen out of the courtyard. As the various courtiers drifted away towards the main hall, and Barbara squeezed Nyssa on the arm again before following, Nyssa approached Tegan, slipping their hands together, smiling slightly.

‘I think that went rather well.’

‘I… yes, you could say that.’

‘Tegan,’ Nyssa said, slowly. ‘What you did was very brave but, I have to admit, also rather stupid.’

‘I know,’ Tegan replied, sighing. ‘I just… I didn’t want them to…’

Nyssa smiled, and pressed a kiss to Tegan’s cheek.

‘You’re so sweet, Tegan.’

                                                             *

 The fancy ceremony that evening in the banquet hall was unlike Tegan had seen before. Possibly because both herself and Nyssa had been called upon to receive honours beside Dynadan. Unfortunately, Tegan still had to wear the ridiculous hat but, with Nyssa next to her, she found it hard to complain too much. Well, verbally, at least.

Upon sitting down for the feast, they were surprised that the renewal of the magic really had made a difference to the taste of the food and drink. Before, it had tasted wonderful indeed but now? It was like drinking nectar and eating wondrous honeycomb for every meal. No wonder the inhabitants of Camelot enjoyed their feasts so much-

‘Master Tegan!’

Tegan turned, having been stood on the edge of the dancefloor. She hadn’t managed to catch Nyssa’s eye yet, although she had been hoping to dance with the young woman at some point.  

Sybil the dragon lady was bustling over, wearing a long gown and a huge smile.

‘Sybil!’ Tegan exclaimed, delighted, as the lady shook his hand. ‘Since when have you been here in Camelot?’

‘My ship had to make an emergency stop on the coast a day ago,’ explained the older woman. ‘And, when I heard that several Drakonis Nobilis had been spotted here, I just had to come and see for myself! Sam was worried, but I knew I needed to- oh, have you met my husband?’

Tegan found himself dragged by the arm across the hall.

‘Sam!’ Sybil explained. ‘Stop skulking in the shadows!’

A short man, wearing old armour and smoking a foul-smelling cigar, stepped out of the dark shadows of one hallway leading off from the hall. He had the grizzled look of someone who had spent far too many nights out in the rain, but his eyes were kind and soft as he looked at Sybil.

‘Sorry, dear,’ he said, with a gravelly voice, as he extended a hand to Tegan. ‘You must be this young Master Tegan that everyone’s going on about?’

‘Er, yes,’ Tegan said, shaking Vimes’s hand. ‘What are they saying about me, Mister… er-’

‘Vimes,’ said Sam Vimes. ‘Mainly that you gave the queen a right good dressing-down,’-and here he grinned as if he approved-‘You certainly shocked everyone with how angry you got on behalf on your girlfriend.’

‘N-Nyssa’s not my girlfriend!’ Tegan stammered, feeling the back of her neck grow hot. ‘At… at least, I don’t think so.’

Vimes smiled, knowingly. It wasn’t a particularly cheerful sight, since the man had a face that seemed to have been dragged along pebbled streets for several decades, but Tegan understood the sentiment behind it.

‘Sam, stop worrying the poor thing!’

Vimes chuckled, linking an arm through that of his wife.

‘Good to see you again, Master Tegan,’ Sybil said, smiling down at Tegan. ‘Like I said before, if you ever want a job with the dragons, the offer is there.’

‘Thank you,’ Tegan said, grinning. ‘But… I think I’m happy here.’

‘Well, if you’re sure,’ Sybil grinned. ‘But, as is the case with dragons, always look to where you see your home. Or… with whom you see it, perhaps.’

Sybil, with Sam by her side, turned and walked away, leaving Tegan with a swirl of confused thoughts.

A little exhausted, Tegan walked through the crowd. They eventually reached the far end of the hall, slipped out of the doors, and stepped out into the quiet courtyard, enjoying the feeling of the cool summer night against her skin. She tucked the hat into her belt, and sat down on a nearby low wall.

The smell of wildflowers was drifting through the air, and Tegan sat back slightly, looking out into the valley beyond the castle walls. It was a quiet, restful evening; the sort of evenings where the world is calm and tranquil.

Had it really been barely a few days since they had left Cornwall? Good grief, Tegan mused, she probably ought to get around to writing a letter home. Although they could already guess that her mother wouldn’t accept “saving Camelot from destruction” as a reasonable excuse-

‘Getting some fresh air?’

Tegan startled. Nyssa was stood a few yards away, the door to the banquet hall closing behind her.

‘Yeah,’ Tegan replied, blinking quickly. ‘You got tired of all the courtiers asking you to dance, then?’

‘Actually, I believe they were all expecting me to dance with… someone else.’

Tegan blinked, as Nyssa sat down next to her, smiling softly.

‘Oh,’ she said. ‘Right.’

Nyssa let out a giggle, sounding almost birdsong to Tegan’s ears. The young woman turned to look at her, and Tegan felt her breath catch in their throat at the warmth in Nyssa’s expression.

‘It looks like Dynadan was very impressed with you.’

‘I suppose,’ Tegan said. ‘Is Guinevere happy for you to wear trousers?’

Nyssa smiled, kicking her legs out beneath her.

‘I think she’ll get used to it. Her reaction was probably due to her background, really; a lot of noble women rarely get to wear practical clothing. She had a hard time imagining anyone needing to wear anything other than fine robes and dresses.’

‘Oh, the poor thing.’

The two of them shared a smile, before looking out over the valley. The full moon was out, shining through the scant clouds being blown across the sky. Summer was well-and-truly blossoming all around them, helped by the renewed magic that had returned to Albion.  

Above, they could see the Noble Dragons flying around, enjoying the feeling of the warm summer air.

‘I think,’ Nyssa said, softly, turning to Tegan, ‘that Nightbane will be offering us another ride amongst the clouds before the hour is out.’

‘You sure you’ll be okay with that?’

Nyssa smiled at her.

‘I… think I will be more agreeable to it this time. Amongst the stars… perhaps, it will less terrifying this time.’

‘A short flight this time, maybe?’

Nyssa smiled.

‘How could I possibly say no to you?’

Tegan stared at her for a moment.

‘You know,’ she said, chuckling. ‘Sometimes, I get the sense that you’re not nearly as sheltered as you let on.’

Nyssa giggled.

‘That is yours to find out, Tegan,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t possibly comment.’

‘There you go again!’

The two of them laughed.

‘I rather like your trousers,’ Tegan said, a tad bashfully. ‘They… well, you look good in them.’

‘Thank you,’ Nyssa said. ‘And I like your trousers too.’

‘Thanks. Actually…’ Tegan said, slowly. ‘To be honest with you, I… I kinda didn’t mind being called “Master Tegan”. When everyone was thinking of me as a man, it… I dunno, I didn’t mind it as much as I thought I might. I… rather liked it, truth be told.’

Nyssa nodded.

‘So… would you prefer it if I referred to you as a man?’

‘Or a woman,’ Tegan elaborated. ‘I… I suppose I like both. Although… maybe erring on the side of being a woman around you?’

‘Your wish is my command,’ Nyssa said, squeezing Tegan’s hand. ‘Whatever makes you happiest, Tegan.’

‘Thank you,’ Tegan said, their mouth stretching into a smile. It felt… nice. Tegan could be a woman, and be a man at the same time. Or… maybe be something entirely different than both. She, he, they; whoever Tegan was, Tegan was definitely looking forward to finding out.

Nyssa scooted closer on the wall, and pressed her hand softly over Tegan’s. Her face was barely a few inches away, and Tegan found themselves once again feeling like they were falling. But, into what, Tegan had a certain idea. It wasn’t a bad idea. It was a wonderful idea.  

Oh, such a wonderful idea.

‘What…’ Tegan said, slowly, ‘…what did Guinevere say to you earlier?’

Nyssa giggled, face flushing in the light of the full moon above.

‘I believe her exact phrasing was: “Don’t let that Master Tegan get away”.’

‘O-oh,’ Tegan replied, blinking quickly. They didn’t seem to have a stomach any more, because it seemed to have gone strangely numb. Although they could not say the same for her heart, which they could practically hear pounding in their ears.

Nyssa stared at Tegan for a moment, angling her head as if expecting more of a response.

Tegan swallowed, rallying her frazzled nerves.

‘Are…’ they said, very slowly. ‘Are you going to follow her advice?’

Nyssa smiled wider at her, cheeks dimpling. Her eyes were large, and her pupils seemed to have dilated. Softly, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to Tegan’s.

Time seemed to stand still around them, and Tegan’s eyes slipped shut, unable to comprehend anything other than the sweet intoxicating scent of Nyssa, the taste of her soft lips, and the feel of her hands as one cupped Tegan’s chin to deepen their kiss.

Eventually, after what felt like a glorious eternity, their lips parted. Nyssa did not lean back, however, and instead kept her face barely a few inches from Tegan’s blushing cheeks.

‘I already was, Tegan.’

 ~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading, everyone! I hope you enjoyed this series; I'm really starting to enjoy writing more unusual fics and experimenting with genre and theme along the way. And, of course, I had to shove in some more Discworld references (Hence Sam Vimes having a random cameo in the final chapter!).Once again, thank you for reading and I hope to bring you all more interesting stories in the future (no spoilers, but my next multi-chapter fic will involve a mystery). Stay tuned!

[headcanonsandmore]

‘Once and Future’, Chapter Three

Summary:  Journeying across Britannia on an epic quest to save Camelot can really complicate the first week of your new job. However, with Nyssa around, Tegan isn't one to complain. Also, apparently the lady of the lake is after a new companion? As if Tegan's life wasn't complicated enough. And that's not even mentioning the way Tegan's brain keeps jumping from different personal pronouns. How they'll find Merlin at this rate is anyone's guess...

Tagging: @squirius @serenbex and @lonely-space-ace

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                           Read on FFN.                      Read on AO3.

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‘Dynadan?’

‘Yes?’

It had been several hours since the three of them had left Camelot, and they had stopped for lunch by the side of the road, eating sandwiches from the saddlebags. Nyssa, who wasn’t used to riding for long periods, was taking the opportunity to stretch her legs in an empty field nearby, despite the constraints of her dress. The horses were grazing nearby. Tegan was leaning against the rough stone wall that bordered the field, while Dynadan checked the map he had been using to navigate.

‘You said that Merlin was last seen heading towards the south-east of Britannia… do you expect us to be coming across Angles and Jutes during our travels?’

‘Possibly,’ the knight replied, taking a bite from his sandwich. ‘The civilians themselves will likely be no issue; it is the nobility and their armed forces that I am more concerned about. And then, of course, there is the threat of bandits.’

Tegan nodded.

‘Where do you think that Merlin may be?’

Dynadan sighed, walking over to Tegan and placing the opened map onto the wall. Tegan turned to look at it.

‘Possibly this island in the far south?’ he said, pointing to an island situated just off Britannia’s coast before the full might of the channel separating it from the continent. ‘But there is the amount of magic needed to capture Merlin… it is not easy to fix it on one place.’

‘You fancy that Merlin’s prison may well be… not of this world?’

Dynadan stared at her for a second, before nodding.

‘An Otherworld, you mean?’

Nyssa had returned. The woman’s brow was glistening with a small amount of sweat from her walk in the field, and a rosy complexion had emerged in her cheeks. She climbed over the fence, sitting on the top of it and letting her feet dangle.

‘Yes,’ Tegan said. ‘Every child back home grew up knowing about them. Especially for explaining to traders from the continent. Are you familiar with them?’

Nyssa nodded, the curls of her hair bouncing.

‘Only in the vaguest terms, though; the subject wasn’t discussed much in the books of my father’s library. They are… like a branch of reality running counter to ours, correct?’

‘Sort of,’ Tegan said. With one hand, she picked up the small beaker of olive oil that she had been using to dunk her sandwich in. She then bend down to the ground, and poured a couple of drops of the oil into a puddle of water. ‘You see how the oil stays on top, never mixing? That’s how mum always explained it to me; like… a separate world living alongside our own, distinct and separate, and rarely do the two ever overlap.’

She looked up. Nyssa was still sat on the wall, staring down at her.

‘Never overlapping?’ the young woman asked.

‘Er…’ Tegan said, not sure whether they were still talking about Otherworlds. He found it difficult to concentrate.

Wait, he?

He? She? They?

Tegan felt more confused than ever.

Dynadan cleared his throat. The two young people startled, as they realised that he was stood there as well.

‘While the horses are resting,’ he said, as Tegan felt their face flush. ‘I think a bit of combat practice might be a good idea for you both. I know that the sword and shield each chose you both, but it will be good for you both to know how to wield both weapons.’

Tegan nodded, getting to their feet. Dynadan climbed over the wall and into the field. Exchanging a nervous glance with Nyssa, Tegan followed him.  

Dynadan came to a stop in the middle of the field, and pulled his sword from the scabbard at his belt. He then hoisted his shield off his back, and tossed it to Tegan, who caught it awkwardly. Pushing his helmet on, the knight left the visor up so that his face was still visible.

‘Now, Tegan,’ he said, holding his sword out before him. ‘With the shield, I want you to parry the sword strikes that I make. Nyssa, watch what Tegan does.’

Stood a few feet away, Nyssa nodded, her eyes now fixed on Tegan.

Tegan raised the shield in front of her, legs spaced slightly apart and bent at the knees. Growing up in a rural place, Tegan had been taught by her parents to keep herself safe. And she would be lying if she said that she had never brawled or fought with any of the other children she had grown up with. Never with weapons, of course, but you did learn how to hold yourself regardless.

Dynadan lunged forward, and Tegan reacted instinctively, raising the shield and forcing him back. There was a clang of metal on armour as she did so. There was a brief pause as Dynadan stepped backwards away from her.

He repeated this several times from different angles, growing quicker each time. Tegan was able to repel him each time, although she did find it more of a struggle as the knight became increasingly imaginative.

Grinning, Dynadan came forward again, feigned, and almost got around Tegan before she could raise the shield. However, her reflexes were clearly better than he had expected, because the shield banged off his arm, making him drop the sword, which fell to the ground with a metallic thunk.

‘Brilliant, Tegan! Now,’ Dynadan said, grinning as he wiped sweat from his brow. ‘Nyssa, I want you to parry as well. ’

‘O-okay,’ Nyssa replied, walking over. Dynadan passed her his sword, and collected his shield from Tegan, who stepped back to watch.

Nyssa seemed to find carrying the sword a trifle more difficult than Tegan had with the shield, despite the smaller weight. Tegan supposed that made sense; Nyssa, after all, was from a royal family where she wouldn’t have grown up with so much physical exertion as Tegan had become used to back home. The fact was that, unlike Tegan, Nyssa didn’t have muscles to speak of.

Despite this, however, she seemed to carry the sword fairly well, albeit with a slight wobble as she held it aloft.

‘Okay,’ Dynadan said, holding the shield before him. ‘I want you to attack me; try to get around the shield.’

Nyssa nodded, beads of sweat already forming on her forehead.

She lunged forward with a stabbing motion to the side, which bounced off the rim of the shield with a clang. However, seconds later, Nyssa used the momentum of the strike to swing around in a circle, trying to land the sword over the shield.

Dynadan was able to raise the shield in time, causing the sword to bounce off again but with far more force. Nyssa’s arms shook with the impact, and she appeared slightly winded.

However, after a couple of deep breaths, the young woman tried again, this time successfully clipping Dynadan on the side of his helmet. The swing was too weak to incur any damage, of course; Nyssa was clearly all too aware of the dangers that came with wielding such a weapon.

‘Well done!’ Dynadan said, grinning. ‘Great form, Nyssa; Tegan, did you see how she used the momentum of one strike to carry into the next?’

‘Yep,’ Tegan said, smiling at Nyssa. ‘Are you sure you’ve never done this before?’

‘I… may have had some practice during festivals back home,’ Nyssa said, her cheeks pink from the effort of holding the sword. ‘Nothing too exertive, of course.’

‘Fantastic,’ Dynadan said, smiling. ‘Okay; now, I want you both to spare with each other. Nyssa, you use the shield and Tegan, you can-’

‘I’m not using a sword against Nyssa!’ Tegan exclaimed, horrified. ‘I’ve never used one before; what if I end up hurting her?’

‘If you’ll let me finish,’ Dynadan said, chuckling. ‘I was going to say you can use my quarterstaff.’

‘O-oh.’

The knight let out a bark of cheerful laughter, and headed back over to the horses to collect the staff.

Nyssa turned and sidled up to Tegan, cheeks dimpling as she smiled.

‘You really are too sweet, Tegan,’ she said, cheeks still pink. ‘Although I am less fragile than you may think.’

‘I was more concerned with my own clumsiness,’ Tegan muttered, feeling her heart beat a little faster. ‘I’d probably end up cutting off half our limbs.’

Nyssa chuckled.

‘You’re too harsh on yourself,’ she exclaimed, patting Tegan on the arm. ‘And don’t go easy on me, either; I like seeing you all intense-’

‘Here’s the staff!’

Tegan and Nyssa startled, as Dynadan approached, carrying a quarterstaff. Tegan ignored the flush on her cheeks as she accepted the staff; she was desperately trying to avoid thinking about why Nyssa liked seeing her being intense.

A few moments later, Tegan and Nyssa -now holding the requested weapons- were stood a few feet apart.

There was a brief pause, as they sized the other up.

Nyssa really was small, wasn’t she? Tegan mused. She could barely hold that shield. Maybe all Tegan would have to do was push Nyssa back far enough and wrestle the shield out of her hands-

Nyssa charged forward.

Caught off guard, Tegan stumbled backwards. Nyssa’s eyes, just visible above the shield, were determined without being forceful. The shield clanged against the staff, forcing it upwards and backwards, so that Tegan’s elbow was caught in an awkward angle.

With a jostle, the staff slipped out of Tegan’s hand. As the shield pushed against her, Tegan tripped, landing on her back. Nyssa darted forward, grabbed the staff from where it had fallen, and pressed the long side of it against Tegan’s neck. It wasn’t painful.

Or, rather, Tegan couldn’t really notice whether it was painful or not. She was more concerned with the fact that Nyssa, breathing heavily and with stray locks of curly brown hair slipping out from her hair-covering, was now barely a few inches from Tegan’s own face. Their eyes locked onto each other and there was a brief pause where all that Tegan could hear was Nyssa’s very heavy and very husky breathing.

Oh.

‘I-I give in!’ Tegan stammered, feeling her face burn.

‘Well done,’ said Dynadan from nearby, although Tegan found it difficult to focus too much on him as Nyssa gently moved the shield away from her neck. ‘I think you both did really well there!’

Moving back, Nyssa reached down and gently helped Tegan to her feet.

‘Sorry,’ she said, her eyes earnest as Tegan stumbled upright. ‘I think I must have got carried away. I didn’t hurt you, did I?’

‘N-no!’ Tegan said, breathlessly. She was immensely aware of the way Nyssa’s hand was still gently gripping hers. ‘Not at all!’

‘Because you are very red in the face and I wasn’t sure if-’

‘Dynadan, shouldn’t we be leaving now?’ Tegan said, quickly, hurrying forward to where Dynadan was. ‘We do have to travel a long way, after all!’

From behind her, Tegan could hear a giggle. She bit down on her lip, trying to ignore the giddy feeling in her stomach.

                                                                *

 The afternoon passed about as slowly as the morning, although Tegan did not mind it. Primarily because Nyssa insisted on checking that she definitely hadn’t left a mark on Tegan’s neck. Which, Tegan had to admit, was very sweet of her. Even if her own reasons for enjoying the attention were more related to Nyssa’s soft hands on her neck as opposed to any worrying about her own physical condition.

It was about mid-afternoon when Dynadan pulled away from the main road, heading along a country lane through the trees. They seemed to have reached the edge of some sort of moor, because Tegan felt a slight chill in the wind, and pulled her cloak up around her.

Eventually, Dynadan pulled over to the side of the lane. It wasn’t an especially pleasant place to stop, given the windswept tress and ominous fog in the distance.

‘We are in luck,’ the knight said, climbing off his horse. ‘We have arrived at the home of the lady.’

‘The… lady?’

‘Of the lake.’

‘Wait…’ Tegan said, slowly. ‘You mean the same lady of the lake who gifted Caliburn to Arthur?’

‘She gifted it to Merlin originally,’ Dynadan replied, grinning. ‘And, as we have the sword again, she may be willing to grant us information. She has a connection with Merlin that is older than most.’

Dynadan helped Nyssa off the horse, and Tegan hopped down beside her. Mists rolled over the hills ahead of them. A chill hung in the air.

Tegan and Nyssa stepped closer to each other, their hands on the sword and shield they were carrying. The atmosphere of the place wasn’t evil, exactly, but it was definitely old, clever and unknowably unearthly. It was as if they really had passed over into an Otherworld.

Leaving the horses to graze on the grass, Tegan and Nyssa followed Dynadan away from the path, heading down the valley towards… well, whatever was down there.

There were barely any trees around, and the ones that did stand were gnarled and hunched, their few leaves whistling erringly in the breeze. The temperature seemed to have dropped slightly, and Tegan could almost see her breath rise in clouds before her as she walked along. There was certainly a chill in the air, that was for sure.

As the three descended down the valley, they could begin to make out a lake below them, dotted by weeds and stones. Tegan’s teeth chattered, and she squeezed Nyssa’s hand. The lake was ancient, quiet and covered in more mists than everywhere else. The wind seemed to swirl the mists around the lake, creating a sort of vortex of cold, wet air that blew directly into their faces as the three of them reached the shoreline.

Tegan cursed under her breath, as a midge bit her on the wrist. Bloody horrible place to live, she thought. Her boots were mercifully waterproof, because she didn’t fancy trekking through this watery, marshy ground otherwise.

Nyssa’s hand slipped into Tegan’s. She was glad of the reminder that the young woman was walking next to her, the warmth of her skin a barrier against the cold wetness all around.

The mists parted, and a boat came into view.

It was small, sturdy and made of a pale wood. That wasn’t especially unusual, of course. What was unusual about this boat was the fact it was also completely empty. The boat seemed to be propelling itself through the water, as no oars seemed to push it towards the shoreline.

‘Er… Dynadan?’ Tegan said, slowly. ‘What is this?’

‘Our means of conveyance to see the lady,’ the knight replied, gamely climbing into the boat. ‘Hop in.’

Awkwardly, Tegan climbed into the boat, and then turned, reaching out to help Nyssa. The young woman smiled nervously, and stepped forward.

A small wave rocked the boat, and Nyssa stumbled, landing against Tegan in the boat. Tegan was suddenly very aware of the scent Nyssa was wearing, and her mind was cast back to that evening in the baths. It wasn’t even two days since then, but the sudden physical contact set Tegan’s heart aflame, and she stared down at the young woman. She could see herself reflected in the huge grey-green eyes.

Oh.

‘Thank you, Tegan.’

‘No… no problem.’

There was snicker from Dynadan, as Tegan and Nyssa awkwardly broke apart, sitting on the seat that cut through the middle of the boat.

The boat continued through the mists waters. Soon enough, the shoreline slipped from view behind them. Occasionally, Tegan could make out small water-plants sticking out of the surface of the water as they glided past.

‘There!’

Dynadan pointed ahead, and Tegan’s mouth fell open as the mist parted.

A small castle was stood before them, on a grassy hill that stuck out of the lake. It was adorned simply, with little decoration at all. The castle seemed to be made out of solid stone blocks, but also seemed strangely… ethereal, as if the entire place could slip away into the mists at a moments’ notice.

The boat gently came to a stop at the bottom of the hill. Dynadan climbed out of the boat, and Tegan and Nyssa followed him up the grassy incline, staying close together once again a few paces behind the knight.

‘Nyssa, did your fathers library mention anything about the lady of the lake?’

Nyssa shrugged.

‘Not much more than is commonly known, I’m afraid. Although I do not believe she is human.’

Tegan looked back at the boat, which was still rocking slightly against the shoreline. She set her jaw, and followed Nyssa through the open gates of the castle.

Dynadan, walking a few yards ahead, strode across the empty entrance hall. Looking around, Tegan was aware of the strangely tranquil air to the place. There wasn’t a speck of dust anywhere, but she got the sense that this was a place where little happened. And, if there were people living here other than the lady herself, they weren’t visible to the naked eye.

Shivering slightly, despite the respite from the cold wet air outside, Tegan hurried after Nyssa, and intertwined her fingers with those of the young woman.

‘Are you alright?’ Nyssa asked, turning slightly to look at her, her voice soft.

‘This place is giving me the creeps,’ Tegan said. ‘Back home, we weren’t supposed to go near the fae folk.’

‘I don’t believe she is one of the folk,’ Nyssa replied, squeezing Tegan’s hand. ‘But I can understand your unease. It is a rather… unworldly place, isn’t it.’

Dynadan had reached the end of the entrance hall, arriving at a pair of enormous oak doors. As Tegan and Nyssa approached, the doors opened silently. Dynadan nodded at them both, and stepped through. Hand-in-hand, Tegan and Nyssa followed.

The hall into which they had entered was sparse, quiet and almost unerringly opaque in nature. Huge windows looked out into the mists, although no mists entered. The stone beneath Tegan’s feet was of white marble, the sort of thing that she would have expected from Roman villas back during the heyday of the Pax Romana.

A rich curtain was hanging over a doorway at the far end. It was pulled apart, and a figure stepped through.

A tall, stately lady with long, white hair, wearing long robes of even paler white. She carried a staff in one hand. She seemed to glow with a soft light, and Tegan found herself almost unable to breath. Not from fear, but from a sense that she was in the presence of someone immensely powerful. Not a cruel power, and certainly not an evil one. But certainly not human either. In all the most amazing and terrifying ways.  

The lady of the lake came to a gentle stop in front of the three travellers. Dynadan took his helmet off, and sunk onto a knee, bowing deeply.

‘My lady.’

The figure gazed at him for a moment, before a small smile pursed her lips. She stepped forward, and raised Dynadan to his feet.

‘Dynadan,’ the lady spoke, in an almost otherworldly voice, clipped and ethereal. ‘You have returned… with Caliburn, I see.’

Her eyes came to focus on the sword and scabbard hanging from Tegan’s belt.

‘Yes, My lady,’ Dynadan said. ‘Although I wish we could have come in kinder times. We come to you with a question.’

The lady turned her head.

‘You know ours laws, Dynadan,’ she said, and Tegan got the sense that the laws she was referring to were not those of Camelot or humanity in general. ‘Those who hold the sword may ask.’

Dynadan turned to Tegan expectantly.

‘Speak, young apprentice,’ said the lady, eyes fixed on Tegan.

‘Er…’ Tegan said, a little alarmed by the way the woman never seemed to blink. ‘Where is Merlin?’

The lady did not speak for a moment, but her eyes seemed to grow pensive.

‘Merlin… has been clouded from my sight for a long time,’ the lady replied, her voice turning worried. ‘But… the last I saw of them… young apprentice, follow me this way….’

She turned, beckoning Tegan after her, and crossed the room, stepping back through the curtain.

Tegan looked in alarm at Dynadan, who nodded encouragingly.

Nyssa, who did not look so persuaded, gave Tegan a worried look, giving her hand one last squeeze before she let go.

Tegan stepped though the curtain, and her mouth dropped open.

She was stood in a bedchamber of sorts. A huge four-poster bed stood at one end, embroidered with drapes on which were illustrated leaves and vines. Huge curtains, in a deep rich purple, covered the windows, giving a soft, sleepy atmosphere.

The lady of the lake was stood by a large pedestal of some kind. Tegan could see glittering shapes reflected on her face.

Stumbling a little as she walked, Tegan crossed the room, and joined the lady beside the pedestal.

‘Do you know what this is?’ the lady asked, turning to her.

Tegan shook her head, agog as she stared down at what the pedestal contained.

It was… well, it seemed like an enormous glass ball, with streams of delicate light flowing around in seemingly infinite patterns. Tegan could make out the shapes of horses and doves, which disappeared into nothingness and then reformed as animals entirely different.

‘H-how-’

The lady of the lake chuckled, suddenly seeming far less distant.

‘Please do not be alarmed,’ she said. ‘This is what I use to see fragments of the world outside my domain. It is how I knew you were an apprentice.’

‘You… you’ve seen me in this thing?’ Tegan exclaimed, feeling her face burn. ‘I hope it wasn’t during private moments!’

The lady stared at her for a moment, before tipping back her head and letting out a deep laugh of delight.

‘What?’ Tegan mumbled, confused.

‘It’s… oh, I do miss speaking to humans,’ the lady replied, wiping a happy tear from her eye. ‘I reveal a way of seeing all of the world, and you’re concerned about me seeing you in the bath.’

‘B-but-’ Tegan stammered. ‘What do you mean, bath?’

‘Have you told Miss Nyssa about the extent of your feelings yet?’

Tegan goggled at the lady, feeling the heat in her cheeks.

‘I- that’s not-’

The lady chuckled, smiling kindly.

‘Oh, humans,’ she said. ‘You do like to enliven your short lives with so much bother; I admire you all greatly for it.’

Tegan frowned, crossing her arms over her chest.

‘Didn’t you have something to show me?’

The lady nodded, turned and moved her hand over the surface of the glass.

The lights moved and streamed, eventually forming into an image. A tall figure, with white hair, stood at the edge of a forest. The trees seemed to lean towards them.

‘What is that place?’

‘The deep forest,’ the lady replied. ‘I do not know of its name as you would understand it. Dynadan knows of its location, but I am afraid to tell you that it is far.’

‘How far?’

The lady sighed.

‘The distances of the mortal world are… difficult for me to grasp. All I can say is that it is far longer than mortals can walk in a few days.’

Tegan swallowed.

‘Fantastic,’ she murmured, sarcastically. ‘Really great.’

‘Merlin has a connection to the sword and shield, as you are no doubt aware,’ said the lady. ‘That’s why they found you. I believe you may have a chance, if the magic was strong enough to find you.’

Tegan unsheathed the sword and stared at it.

She was wary of magic in general, but the magic that the sword seemed to be connected to was especially old and mysterious. The sword itself seemed at first glance to be no more magical than a standard weapon of its size, but something about it on further inspection did seem… well, a little otherworldly, to say the least.

‘I still can’t believe I got pulled into this,’ she muttered, mostly to herself. ‘I was just looking for a job in Camelot.’

‘Actually,’ the lady said, slowly. Tegan looked up at her. ‘I have a proposition for you. Would… would you like to stay here with me, Tegan?’

Tegan almost dropped Caliburn.

‘W-what?’

‘I am… alone here,’ the lady said, softly. She reached forward and placed a hand gently upon Tegan’s arm. ‘I do miss company. And you are a fine person, Tegan. I would like it very much if you would remain here, as my… companion.’

Tegan’s mouth opened and closed, like a fish. Stammering, she quickly sheathed Caliburn, glad of something to do with her hands.

‘My… my lady-’

‘Oh, please do not be so formal,’ said the lady, waving her other hand absently. ‘Call me Nynyane.’

‘N-Nynyane. I… I… I am very flattered but… I mean… Nyssa…’

‘Oh,’ replied the lady, softly, removing her hand from Tegan’s arm. ‘You would miss your own companion, that is understandable. Wait a moment…’

Nynyane erupted in a brief light, which faded after a moment. Tegan’s mouth dropped open again; standing before her was a near-identical version of Nyssa, wearing a white gown.

‘Her form… pleases you?’ Nynyane said, speaking with the same ethereal voice. It was unnerving coming from Nyssa’s lips. ‘She is rather beautiful, is she not-’

‘What are you- don’t do that!’ Tegan exclaimed. ‘You can’t just… take someone’s form like that!’

‘Whyever not? Are you sure you don’t like it?’ Nynyane looked confused, before raising a hand up to the neckline. ‘I could take off the dress if you would prefer to-’

‘No! Just… just change back, please!’

There was another brief burst of light, and the taller form of the lady was standing before her again.

‘I am… sorry,’ she said, looking a little confused. ‘I never quite know how to behave around humans. I was not trying to upset you.’

She sat down on the bed, hands folded in her lap.

Tegan sighed. The lady appeared so forlorn that she felt rather sorry for her. Considering how empty this place was, it wasn’t difficult to imagine Nynyane feeling lonely and without any meaningful company.

‘You didn’t, Nynyane,’ she said, still feeling a little awkward with calling this ethereal creature by her given name. She sat down next to her. ‘Do you… normally turn into women to please people?’

Nynyane looked at her, brows furrowed in apparent bafflement.

‘Not just women, but yes,’ she replied. ‘Usually, I find that people… enjoy my transformations.’

‘Maybe you should focus more on being you,’ Tegan said, slowly.

‘Me?’ -Nynyane looked down at herself- ‘Whyever would I do that?’

‘Well, you are a being of great acclaim and renown,’ Tegan said, bumping her with her elbow. ‘You’re very beautiful and you seem to be of a kind nature, so… maybe you shouldn’t focus too much on making yourself into what other people like.’

‘I…’ -Nynyane’s cheeks flushed- ‘Tegan, you see me so?’

Tegan nodded, giving a friendly smile.

‘I’m sure people will appreciate you for who you are,’ she elaborated. ‘Maybe walk into the nearest settlement and chat with people at the folk dance? They’ll be besotted with you soon, I’m sure.’

‘Oh, Tegan,’ Nynyane reached out, squeezing Tegan’s hands. ‘Thank you. You are too sweet. But… if you do see me as such, why do you not wish to stay?’

‘Listen,’ Tegan said, gently. ‘I do appreciate the offer -really, I do- but… I can’t abandon all the people in Camelot who are relying on the three of us to rescue Merlin.’

Nynyane nodded, a little sadly.

‘I understand,’ she said, giving a small smile. ‘You are brave and good, Tegan.’

‘I’m really just a kid from Cornwall,’ Tegan replied, shrugging.

‘That does not preclude someone from being brave and good,’ Nynyane replied, eyes twinkling softly. ‘My offer is still open to you, of course, after your quest has ended.’

Tegan let out a small chuckle.

‘I don’t even know if we can rescue Merlin.’

Nynyane smiled.

‘With you there, Tegan, I think the three of you may just succeed.’

‘Er… thanks,’ Tegan said.

At the entrance to the room, there was the tumble of boots on the floor. Tegan looked up quickly. The curtain was suddenly thrown back, and Tegan was shocked to see Nyssa stumble into the room. Tegan immediately jumped to her feet, feeling heat rise in her cheeks.

‘Miss Nyssa,’ said Nynyane, smiling as she stood up. ‘My apologies; I have kept Master Tegan from you.’

Nyssa did not respond, but her own eyes flicked between Tegan and the lady, narrowing slightly in confusion. Flush darted across her cheeks.

‘Nyssa,’ Tegan said, slowly. ‘Were you… eavesdropping?’

‘Well, if you must know, yes,’ Nyssa said, a little stiffly. ‘I was concerned; the lady showing you something should not be taking this long.’

‘And you were correct with that assession,’ Nynyane replied, nodding in approval. ‘I must admit to enjoying Master Tegan’s company very much.’

‘O-oh,’ Nyssa said, eyes widening and mouth quivering slightly as she looked between the lady and Tegan’s now-flushing face. ‘I… I see.’

‘Master Tegan is… a very handsome apprentice, are they not?’

Nyssa seemed to bristle as she swept forward, and grabbed Tegan by the arm.

‘Tegan, I really think we ought to get going,’ she said, pulling the flabbergasted Tegan behind her through the curtain. ‘Where’s that knight gone?’

Dynadan was stood a few feet away. His eyes briefly lingered on Nyssa’s hand and Tegan’s flustered expression. To Tegan’s utter mortification, he flashed a very brief and very knowing grin in her direction before turning to look towards Nynyane, who had followed them through the curtain.

‘I trust your discussion with Master Tegan was… informative?’ Dynadan asked.

‘Oh, yes, very,’ Nynyane replied, smiling sweetly at Tegan. ‘I hope the information I have supplied may be helpful to your journey.’

‘Yeah,’ Tegan said, ‘Something about… a deep forest?’

Dynadan let out a gasp.

‘You know this place?’ Nyssa said.

‘I do,’ Dynadan said. ‘Though I have never entered it. It is not a place welcoming to many.’

‘Oh, brilliant,’ Tegan muttered, quietly, so that only Nyssa could hear it. ‘This just gets better and better…’

‘Thank you, my lady,’ Dynadan said, bowing to the lady. ‘We cannot thank you enough for your help.’

‘You will not stay for food?’ asked Nynyane, turning to Tegan with a shy smile. ‘I would like to show Master Tegan the delights of my domain.’

‘I’m afraid we are under great time pressures,’ Dynadan replied, as Tegan flushed. Nyssa gave a short snort through her nose, which bounced the curl sticking out from her hair-covering. ‘I hope we will meet again in better circumstances.’

The lady smiled.

She followed the three travellers out of the chamber, across the entrance hall and out of the castle. As they reached the boat on the shoreline, Dynadan stepped forward and shook Nynyane’s hand. Smiling, the lady then did the same with Nyssa, who gave a short, curt handshake with an accompanying face that did not disguise her irritation. However, the lady did not seem to find this rude, and instead smiled widely at Nyssa.

‘Goodbye, Master Tegan,’ said Nynyane, turning from Nyssa and taking Tegan’s hand softly. ‘Take care; the world is not kind to those as fair and good as you.’

Tegan’s face burned again as Nynyane pressed a kiss to her hand. She could practically feel Nyssa bristle again next to her.

‘T-thanks,’ Tegan mumbled. ‘We really appreciate your help.’

Nynyane smiled and, after the three travellers had climbed into the boat, waved a fond farewell to them as the boat pushed out from the shoreline. She continued waving, her smile kind and sweet, until the mists became too thick to see through, and Nynyane disappeared from view.

‘Well…’ Tegan said, drawing her cloak around her against the chill of the air. ‘That was informative.’

‘Oh, yes,’ Nyssa said, shortly, folding her arms over her chest. ‘Very.’

‘Nyssa?’

‘She seemed to like you a lot, didn’t she?’ Nyssa muttered, looking away in the mists. ‘Very friendly.’

Tegan looked around at Dynadan. The knight had a hand over his mouth and was clearing trying not to giggle.

‘Nyssa, are you… jealous of Nynyane?’

‘What?’ Nyssa exclaimed, hotly. ‘Tegan, I am not the jealous sort! Certainly not over the so-called lady of the lake -wait, did you call her Nynyane?’

‘She asked me to.’

‘Of course she did,’ Nyssa huffed, irritably. ‘Well, I certainly am not jealous of her extending flirtatious overtones to my… friend.’

Tegan’s mind briefly lingered on the pause before that last word.

‘Actually, she said we were… companions.’

Nyssa stared at Tegan for a moment.

‘Companions?’

‘Yes,’ Tegan said, a shy smile tugging at her lips. ‘I… I rather like it.’

‘I… I suppose it fits us well.’

Tegan giggled.

Nyssa caught her eye.

‘I am not jealous, I assure you.’

‘Liar; you absolutely are!’ Tegan exclaimed. ‘You’re actually jealous of the lady of the lake, aren’t you?’

‘Don’t be absurd,’ Nyssa huffed, the curl of her hair bouncing again. ‘I’m not… that is…’

Tegan chuckled, and put an arm around her shoulders.

‘So, you really wouldn’t have minded if I had accepted her invitation for me to stay with her?’

‘Her invitation for you to what?’ Nyssa exclaimed, head snapping around. ‘That’s outrageous! Doesn’t she realise you have more important things to be getting along with?’

Tegan smiled again, squeezing Nyssa softly, and the young woman’s irritation seemed to dissolve like snow on the first day of spring.

‘I… I suppose maybe she does,’ Nyssa admitted, clearly trying not to smile too much. She leaned slightly into Tegan’s side. ‘As do you.’

‘Yeah,’ Tegan said, grinning. ‘I do, indeed.’

After the boat exited the mists and reached the other shore, the three of them headed back up through the valley, and eventually arrived back with the horses. Time seemed to function differently in the domain they had just left because, judging from the behaviour of the horses, they had barely been gone a few minutes.

‘So… where is this deep forest?’ Tegan said, as Dynadan unveiled his map. The horses were getting nervous from the mists around them, and Tegan was looking forward to getting away quickly, if only to escape the all-pervading coldness of the air around them. ‘A lot of Britannia used to be covered in forests, that doesn’t narrow it down.’

‘It does,’ Dynadan said, smiling. ‘The great forest… the greatest and largest, it is across the sea, on the north-western tip of the continent…Brocéliande.’

There was a gasp from Nyssa, and Tegan turned to the young woman.

‘Where?’

‘I read about it in my father’s library,’ Nyssa whispered, awed. ‘A magical forest, full of the magic of the old world. Pre-Roman. Pre… everything, really. A deep, secluded place, where humans fear to tread.’

Tegan looked between Nyssa and Dynadan, who nodded in agreement.

‘Dangerous?’

‘Very,’ Dynadan said. ‘It’s possibly one of the only places where Merlin could be imprisoned. The magic of that forest… it scarcely bares thinking about.’

‘And… that’s where we’re going?’

‘I’m afraid so.’

The three of them went silent, thinking hard.

‘I understand if both of you feel unable to come,’ Dynadan said, finally. ‘No-one would think anything less of you for turning back.’

‘Not bloody likely.’

Tegan and Nyssa had spoken as one. They looked at each other; Nyssa reached out and squeezed Tegan’s hand. Tegan didn’t dare speak.

Dynadan smiled.

‘Well, then we are agreed; to Brocéliande!’

                                                            *

 The sun was already beginning to set when they finally came across the nearest inhabited settlement; one solitary inn.

It was cosy and squat, with one main common room on the lower floor and the rooms for guests on the floor above. A couple of quietly smoking chimneys jutted softly out of the roof. “The Brigadier’s Moustache” adorned the sign, accompanied by a rather poorly-drawn illustration.

‘Weird name,’ Tegan muttered.

Leaving the horses in the stables, the three of them headed inside. Dynadan immediately headed for the main bar, and caught the attention of the innkeeper. Judging from his face, he was the inspiration for the attempt at artwork on his establishments sign.

Tegan kept close to Nyssa, aware that the other occupants of the common room were eyeing them both slightly warily. Although, from their expressions, Tegan could gather than they were more cautious in nature than outright hostile. Given the bandits active in the area, this was to be expected.

Although, given that Nyssa had slipped her hand into Tegan’s once again, she found it difficult to take too much offence at the frosty reception.

Dynadan returned from the main bar, grinning.

‘They have rooms available. Miss Nyssa, I assume that you would prefer a room to yourself?’

‘That won’t be needed,’ the young woman replied. ‘I will share with Tegan.’

Dynadan’s eyes lingered on Nyssa and Tegan’s interwoven hands for a second.

‘As you wish,’ he said, giving Tegan a rather knowing look that made the heat rise in her face. ‘We have a little while before the evening meal, so I suggest we take some time to relax and recuperate before joining those in the common room.’

Tegan nodded, and followed Nyssa up the stairs. Their room was a cosy affair, although -Tegan felt her heart beat nervously- there was only one double bed. Nyssa didn’t seem to mind, though, and set to work unpacking her things from her own pack.

Tegan eased her boots off and sat down on the bed, exhausted from the day riding.

‘Are you sure you’re happy to share a room?’ she asked, hesitantly. ‘Dynadan doesn’t know I’m a girl.’

‘Doesn’t he?’

Tegan stared at Nyssa’s twinkling eyes.

‘Okay, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t,’ Tegan admitted. ‘Still, you don’t need to reduce your own privacy for my sake; Dynadan has no interest of that nature in anyone.’

‘Oh, I know that already,’ Nyssa smiled, sitting down next to Tegan. ‘I just… I feel safe around you, Tegan.’

‘I… thank you,’ Tegan said, slightly breathlessly. ‘I feel safe around you too.’

Nyssa giggled, her cheeks dimpling prettily.

‘I should hope so; we’re sharing a bed tonight.’

Tegan blushed, causing the young woman to giggle further.

‘Now you’re just trying to make me flustered,’ Tegan mumbled.

‘And it’s working,’ Nyssa chuckled, nudging Tegan softly with her shoulder. ‘Don’t worry; I won’t bite.’

‘Nyssa!’

The two descended into more laughter.

After relaxing a little, Tegan and Nyssa headed downstairs to the common room for the evening meal. It was nothing fancy; a simple meat stew with vegetables. But after a long day of riding a horse and with nothing to eat other than sandwiches and the occasional apple, Tegan was glad of the hot food.

The common-room was mainly full of travellers like themselves, as well as several merchants and even a group of musicians, who seemed to have haggled with the innkeeper for a supper in exchange for a musical performance. They were a cheerful bunch, and Tegan could hear many an accent amongst their number. It reminded Tegan somewhat of the groups of travelling players that often appeared at summer festivals back home.

‘How is your stew?’ she asked Nyssa, who was picking at the food in her bowl.

‘Fine. It’s just… well, I suppose I still haven’t gotten used to the cooking on the mainland. In Traken, our diet was primarily seafood.’

Tegan nodded. Cornwall was a bit more varied, but she had grown up with more fish on her plate that she would have expected people from places further inland to have been used to. When you lived at the end of a very long peninsula stretching out into the sea, fishing became quite an important industry. Tegan’s personal favourite was scallops.

Having finished her food, Tegan took a sip from her mug, thinking quietly. Dynadan had got to his feet and had crossed over to the main bar, where he was now quietly speaking to the landlord of the place, discussing recent bandit attacks in the area. The sun had completely set by now, and the curtains had been pulled. Tegan couldn’t help but notice the large sword hanging behind the bar, as if to deter any sorts of brawls that might occur. This seemed like the sort of place that could attract brigands and bands of outlaws.

She could hear the band of players beginning to strike up a tune. There were a few fiddles and even a couple of pipe-players amongst them. The tune was cheerful and springy, the sort of music Tegan had heard from Hibernian travellers back home.

She looked so sweet from her two bare feet to the sheen of her nut-brown hair…

‘Fancy a dance?’

Nyssa squeezed Tegan’s hand and nodded, excitedly. The two stepped into the throng of people dancing, the music quick and vibrant.

It was something like a jig, the sort that Tegan had danced back home, to the folk dances of local festivals. The sort of music played to a lively audience in good spirits.

Nyssa initially seemed unsure of how to dance, but Tegan hooked her own around the young woman’s elbow and began to jig. Nyssa gave a joyous laugh and began to join in, dancing to the infectious beat of the music.

No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke… till my plough turns rust coloured brown… till a smiling bride, by my own fireside… sits the star of the County Down…

There was a final jig as the song entered its last chorus, and then the players finished, the crowd breaking into applause.

Tegan wiped the sweat from her brow, clapping along with Nyssa, whose smile was as bright as the sky on a high-summer day.

‘Oh, wonderful!’ Nyssa exclaimed, look at Tegan.

Tegan was probably grinning like an idiot, but she found it difficult to care. Good grief, Nyssa was breath-taking to behold.

The players started up again, a song slightly less rambunctious and more tender.

Late night, bad dreams… can't sleep but I know where I need to go… jump out of bed, throw on my shoes… to run to those hills that I've always known…

Her smile becoming slightly more nervous, Tegan took Nyssa’s hand. The young woman stepped closer to her, and they swayed, their arms around each other’s waists. Nyssa’s normal sweet scent had mixed with perspiration from the day of travelling, as well as the dancing. The young woman’s eyes shyly found Tegan’s, and the Cornish apprentice found her heart ache as she stared into those grey-green orbs.

I don't believe that we'll ever grow old… why can't you see it's a lie we've been told... let go, we're running at the dark…

‘You okay?’ Tegan whispered, softly, so that only Nyssa could hear her.

Nyssa nodded, squeezing Tegan gently.

‘I think I’d be a lot worse if you were not here.’

‘Me too.’

So many things that are hard to do… so many words that are hard to say… so many chances to be straight and true…but I've always loved romance and fantasy…

Tegan and Nyssa’s eyes met, and their mouths quirked into soft smiles, their cheeks flushed slightly.

The players finished the song, and the crowd broke into applause again.

‘I think we best all go up to bed,’ Dynadan said, walking over and speaking softly so only Tegan and Nyssa could hear him. ‘I’ll knock on your door at the cockerel call tomorrow; remember not to let anyone in until the morning.’

‘We know,’ Nyssa said, pulling on Tegan’s hand. ‘Come on, Tegan; let us go to bed.’

Tegan’s face burned, both at Nyssa’s phrasing and at the barely-disguised laughter that Dynadan hastily turned into a cough.

Tegan found herself pulled along by Nyssa, up the stairs and back to their room. Locking the door carefully behind them, the two of them took off their boots. Tegan was just about to take her over-shirt off when she noticed Nyssa averting her eyes.

‘Sorry,’ she said, pausing. ‘Shall I go behind the screen?’

‘Oh, no; I will,’ Nyssa said, quickly. ‘Sorry; I think I’m a little flushed from dancing.’

‘Hang on, we’ve got flannels in the packs…’

Tegan pulled out two clean flannels, soaked them in the jug of water near the window, and handed one to Nyssa.

‘Thank you,’ Nyssa said, picking up her bag and stepping behind the screen.

Given the candlelight, the screen still gave a vague shadow of the person stood behind it, so Tegan quickly turned around. She could hear the sounds of Nyssa removing her dress and beginning to flannel herself clean.

Tegan tried not to think too much about that. She had to focus on washing herself, after all. Nevermind the fact that, the last time she had been this loosely-dressed around Nyssa was that night in the Camelot baths.

Tegan’s heart thumped painfully at the memory.

There were now the sounds of Nyssa brushing her hair. What did Nyssa look like with her hair uncovered, Tegan wondered. Tegan herself had not really worn them growing up, but her hair had always been so short that it had never made sense to. She supposed that, being technically part of a royal family, Nyssa had grown up with different expectations on her compared to Tegan.

Well, Tegan thought, idly, it wasn’t really any of her business anyway. Though the glimpses of Nyssa’s curls that often peeked out of her hair-covering were… well, certainly eye-catching, that was for sure.

Nyssa moved back around the screen, wearing her shift and a new hair-covering. Tegan finished pulling off her over-shirt, and quickly climbed under the blankets, so that she was sat up in bed.

‘Room for a small one?’ she asked, giggling.

‘You’re only a couple inches shorter than me,’ Tegan chuckled. ‘But, yeah, there is.’

Smiling, Nyssa climbed under the blankets, lying down next to Tegan. Given how big the bed was, this wasn’t especially intimate. Although Tegan couldn’t help but feel her heart thump just a tiny bit harder as she blew out the candle.

Tegan climbed down under the blankets, rustling to get comfy in the unfamiliar bed. Although the day of travel had definitely left her exhausted enough to fall asleep regardless of how comfortable she was.

‘Tegan?’

‘Yeah?’

‘Do you think we’ll be able to rescue Merlin?’

Tegan thought for a moment.

‘To be honest, I’ve no idea. But, then again, I never thought I’d be sharing a bed with a princess either, so who knows?’

Tegan heard Nyssa giggle.

‘That is true. I hope I’m a good bedfellow?’

‘Depends on how much you fart.’

Nyssa descended into laughter.

‘Slander, Tegan, slander!’ she gasped, delightedly.

Tegan smiled, in the darkness.

‘I think I enjoyed folk dancing,’ Nyssa said, happily. ‘Much more fun that formal dances.’

‘Glad to hear it,’ Tegan replied. ‘You are a lovely dancer; did your mother teach you?’

There was a brief pause.

‘My… my mother is no longer with us.’

‘Oh, Nyssa,’ Tegan said, tears springing to her eyes as she turned on her side to face the young woman. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have-’

‘Please don’t cry, Tegan,’ Nyssa interjected. ‘It was a long time ago; when I was a young child.’

‘But still…’

‘Tegan, it’s fine,’-Nyssa’s smile was just about visible in the half-light-‘You are very sweet, but I am fine.’

‘O-okay, then.’

Tegan moved to lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling.

‘What is Traken like?’

‘I suppose…’ Nyssa began, softly. ‘It’s quiet. Like I mentioned, it is a sparsely populated island, made up of a few villages outside of the main castle. Well, I say “castle”; it’s more like a large house with reinforced walls around it that the islanders hid inside of in times of war.’

‘So… a little bit different than what has happened in Albion since you arrived.’

‘I could say the same for you.’

‘True,’ Tegan said.

Nyssa turned onto her side, facing Tegan.

‘I wonder…’

‘What?’

In the half-light, Nyssa’s face was obscured, but Tegan could have sworn that the young woman’s face flushed slightly.

‘Well, I wonder why I feel so at ease around you, Tegan. We only met a few days ago, and yet we’ve not only bathed together but are now sharing a bed. It’s … oh, I don’t how to explain it.’

‘Does it… worry you?’ Tegan said, very softly.

‘Not at all,’ Nyssa replied, almost defiantly. ‘But I’ve never met anyone quite like you, Tegan.’

‘There’s thousands like me,’ Tegan mumbled, her own cheeks burning.

‘No; there’s no-one like you, Tegan.’

Nyssa’s fingers slipped into Tegan’s palm.

‘Goodnight, Tegan.’

‘Good… goodnight, Nyssa.’

                                                              *

 There was the sound of knocking on a door.

Tegan blearily opened her eyes a crack. She was… cuddling something? A very soft, warm something? The something sure smelled good and… oh, very soft indeed. Tegan’s brain began to slowly kick into kick. Had she ended up cuddling her pillow or-

A pair of half-open grey-green eyes stared back at her. A matching, dozily happy, smile appeared below them.

‘Good morning, Tegan,’ Nyssa whispered, softly.

Tegan sat upright, the events of the previous night bursting into life as her brain frantically tried to catch up, sparks flying as she realised exactly where she was and who she had been cuddling.

‘W-we’ll be there in a few minutes!’ Tegan said, frantically, towards the door.

‘Okay,’ said Dynadan’s voice was the other side. ‘Just be as quick as you can, please.’

‘Will do!’

Tegan could hear the sound of Dynadan’s footsteps walking back downstairs to the common-room.

Nyssa was staring at Tegan, looking decidedly bed-rumpled and rather lovely.

‘Nyssa, we overslept!’ Tegan said, quickly, as she struggled to extricate herself from the blankets. ‘We need to get dressed now!’

‘Oh…’ Nyssa said, absently. ‘Were… were you cuddling me, Tegan?’

‘Sorry,’ Tegan exclaimed, finally managing to climb out of bed and quickly flannelling her neck and underarms. ‘C’mon, we need to get moving!’

‘I see,’ Nyssa said, slowly. ‘I think you should give me a pair of trousers.’

Tegan goggled at her.

‘What?’

‘If we’re going to be riding across dangerous terrain, I need to manoeuvre easily on the horse,’ Nyssa said, firmly. ‘And, for that, I need a pair of trousers.’

‘I… alright, fine,’ Tegan said, ducking down and rooting through her pack. ‘I think I’ve got another pair here… yes!’

Nyssa caught the trousers, and swung her legs out of bed. Seeming to wake up somewhat, she then began to hurriedly pull the trousers on. Tegan averted her eyes.

‘Oh, yes,’ Nyssa said, and Tegan turned to see the young woman striding up and down, a wide smile on her face. ‘I can see why you like these!’

‘I don’t… listen, can we please get moving?’

Nyssa nodded, grabbing her own flannel.

As Tegan climbed into her own trousers, she couldn’t help but wonder… did she like wearing these? Originally, it had simply been a way to blend in as a young man, but… well, she did enjoy the feeling of wearing them, she had to admit. Not that she disliked wearing skirts and dresses, but the idea of being able to choose between them all was… strangely exhilarating.

Come to think of it, she didn’t mind being called “Master Tegan” either, or being referred to as a man. That would certainly explain why her -his, their?- mind kept seeming to alter pronouns.

Tegan ran their fingers through his short hair, and began to pull her boots on. Hmmm. It was something to think about, at the very least.

                                                           *

 Another day of travel had passed. Unlike the previous day, precious little had interrupted the hours on horseback. The party had stopped for lunch at midday and then again in the evening. As they were getting closer into territory outside of Albion’s control, there were far few settlements around and therefore less inns. As a result of this, following the evening meal (a stew cooked over the fire Dynadan had expertly started), the knight had pulled out blankets and pillows from his pack, one of each for all three of them.

They had drawn lots for the watch. Dynadan had drawn the last one, meaning that the knight had climbed under the blankets and promptly fallen asleep. He didn’t snore, which Tegan was thankful for.

Nyssa sat down next to Tegan on the log, a brush in her hand.

The young woman reached up and removed her hair-covering. A mane of beautiful brown curls tumbled down to her shoulders.

Tegan’s mouth fell open in awe, scarcely able to breath, and blinked hurriedly. The rest of the world seemed to blur into nothingness. Tegan had seen a couple curls of Nyssa’s hair before, as at least one or two tended to poke out of her hair-covering, but this was different. Almost… intimate. And that was coming from someone who had shared a bath with Nyssa.

Nyssa began to brush her hair, taking care to ease any clumps or tangles out of the curls. Her eyes were fixed in concentration as she did so.

Her gaze then flicked to the person sat next to her.

‘Tegan?’

‘Y-yeah?’ Tegan managed, uncomprehendingly.

‘You’re… staring at me.’

‘Do… do I need a reason?’

Nyssa’s mouth stretched into a shy smile as she went back to brushing.

‘No. I don’t suppose you do.’

The two of them sat in companionable silence for a while, listening to the crackle of the slumbering fire and the occasional snort of the horses as they slept nearby. It was a warm summer evening, and Tegan was glad that the temperature had not dropped too much after the sun had set. It was… peaceful, if you ignored the fact that they were on a mission to save Albion itself.

‘Nyssa?’

‘Yes?’

‘I have been meaning to ask…why are you protecting my secret?’

There was a beat of silence. Nyssa finished brushing her hair, but did not put on a new hair-covering.

‘Well…’ Nyssa said, slowly. ‘I… I respect you a great deal, Tegan. Leaving home from so far away and working hard to provide for your family; you have great courage and resourcefulness. And… well, you did save my life.’

‘But you saved my life too-’

‘I know,’ Nyssa interjected. ‘But… regardless, I still… I still care for you deeply.’

Tegan blinked.

‘I’m no knight.’

‘You’re my knight, Tegan. Regardless of your rank.’

Nyssa leaned sideways, resting her head on Tegan’s shoulder. The feeling of the woman’s curls against Tegan’s skin was soft and deeply comforting. Tegan could have happily stayed there for the rest of eternity, with Nyssa so close to her. There was something quietly tender about it.

Screeeeech!

They both froze.

‘What…’ Nyssa whispered, voice barely perceptible. ‘What do you think that was?’

‘Pheasant.’

Nyssa looked up into Tegan’s eyes.

‘Pheasant?’

‘A very big one.’

Tegan reached out, hand now curled around Caliburn’s hilt.

‘Like I said,’ Nyssa said, softly. ‘My knight.’

Tegan smiled.

‘You best get to sleep; I’ll wake you up when it’s your turn to watch.’

‘I’ll stay here,’ Nyssa said, not moving her head from Tegan’s shoulder. ‘If it’s all the same to you.’

                                                          *

 The sunset settled uneasily over Camelot.

Percival, stood at the front gates at they were closed for the night, put up his visor and took a swig of water. He blanched at the taste; even the magic that normally purified the water was beginning to disappear.

He had seen the tree earlier that day; barely one branch still had leaves on it, and a few of those leaves had begun to fall away during his discussion with the king and Lady Fay.

Lady Fay had been checking to see where Dynadan, Master Tegan and Miss Nyssa were. They seemed to have arrived at the home of the lady of the lake, and had then progressed further in a south-easterly direction into the lands that Albion did not have control over. Arthur had looked grave, aware as he was of the threat of bandits and brigands in the areas held by the encroaching Angles and Saxons.

Percival sighed, and put down the jug.

‘Sir Percival?’

Barbara, the maid of Guinevere, was hurrying down the street towards him.

‘Ma’am?’ he said, bowing his head in respect.  

‘I am concerned,’ she said, coming to a stop in front of him. ‘Young Nyssa is not used to rough terrain; do you think she will be alright?’

‘Do not fret,’ Percival replied, kindly. ‘She has Master Tegan with her; from what Dynadan has told me, he is a good Cornish lad. He’ll make sure she is protected and cared for.’

‘I hope so,’ Barbara said. ‘Ian did try to placate me, but I do worry so. The magic…’

Percival sighed, nodding gravely.

At that moment, the group of court physicians rounded the nearest corner, spotted Dynadan and Barbara, and hurried towards them.

‘Are the defences holding, my dear fellow?’ asked Tribus, his curly white hair just visible in the half light. ‘The wyrms have been growing bolder over the last few days.’

‘They are, just about,’ replied Percival. ‘I believe I spoke with your colleague Tredecim about the matter a few hours ago.’

Tribus nodded, as Quinque stepped forward, fiddling with various instruments that he was pulling out of his pockets.

‘The magic is now dissolving for all but the most essential tasks,’ he said, turning to his colleagues with a worried face. ‘The citadel’s walls are still being protected but the barrier over the skies is no longer operational.’

There was a great deal of alarmed mutterings amongst the physicians.

‘This is worrying,’ said Septum, his slight Caledonian accent stretching his words. As usual, he was wearing cream-coloured robes and a hat. ‘Our scouts have returned semaphore messages from several miles inland; some force is flying this way. Likely, it is Mordred; he will have timed this so that we are at our most vulnerable.’

‘We’ll just have to be wary and protect as best as we can,’ said Noven, who -unlike his peers- was wearing a simple black tunic and trousers. ‘No good chin-wagging and worryin’ about it.’

‘Exactly,’ said Barbara, nodding.

SCREECH!

‘Oh, no…’ Quinque whispered, pointing upwards over the battlements.

Over the horizon appeared a vast flying flotilla of winged wyrms, spitting venom and screeching horribly. Each of them had various warriors, all dressed in dark armour, astride them.

‘Everyone, get inside and alert the king, queen and Lady Fay!’ Percival said, pushing his visor down with a clang. He then called to the various defenders stood on the ramparts. ‘Get the catapults and Greek fire going; we’ve got incoming!’

The physicians and Barbara hurried away, and Dynadan charged up the steps towards the battlements, the icy trill of battle already sinking into his bones. The air was full of the sounds of people running, yelling and strapping on armour. Containers of Greek Fire were already being loaded into the catapults.

The invasion of Camelot had begun.

                                                               *

 ‘Tegan! Tegan, wake up!’

Tegan startled awake. Nyssa was bent over Tegan’s blankets, shaking them by the shoulders. It was still pitch black around them, and the embers of the fire nearby had almost gone out. Tegan had gone to sleep after her own time on watch had finished, and hadn’t been expecting to wake up until first light.

‘Wh’t?’ Tegan mumbled, rubbing her eyes in confusion. ‘W’s happening-’

‘I can hear a bunch of horses approaching,’ Nyssa said, urgently. ‘Dynadan is already packing up our things; we need to move!’

Suddenly alert, Tegan sprung to their feet, stuffing their blanket into the pack and fingers springing quickly to tie their boots. A few feet away, Dynadan was frantically packing things onto his horse. Sure enough, in the darkness, Tegan could hear the sounds of galloping horses getting closer and closer, accompanied by shouts and yells.

‘They’re getting closer!’ exclaimed Nyssa. ‘We must leave; they’re bandits, I’m sure of it!’

Strapping their own pack onto the horse along with Nyssa, Tegan leapt onto the horse’s back. Nyssa grabbed hold of Tegan’s arm and pulled herself up after them.

Dynadan’s horse charged off at a canter, and Tegan did the same, Nyssa’s hands quickly linking around her waist. The road was dark, but the horses seemed to avoid the various potholes and dips as they cantered forward.

‘Let’s get ‘em, lads!’ came a menacing voice from a while behind them. ‘Looks like a bunch of travellers with too many possessions for their own good!’

Tegan spurred his horse forward, feeling Nyssa’s arms clench tightly around their waist as they shot forward. Dynadan’s horse, slightly faster due to the lesser weight, was a few feet in front.

‘Nyssa, take this!’

Falling back in time with them, Dynadan threw Lady Fay’s gift, and Nyssa caught it in her arms. She lurched forwards, close to Tegan’s back, trying not to fall off the horse. Tegan couldn’t see exactly what was happening, but she could hear Nyssa clumsily pulling apart the wrappings.

‘What do I do?’

‘I don’t know!’ Tegan exclaimed. ‘Does it work on command or-’

Tegan could hear some sort of ethereal voice behind her, along with a shocked gasp from Nyssa. There was a blinding light, and Tegan and Nyssa -with Dynadan just behind them- charged into a vortex of colours.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~

Dun-dun-dun! 🤣😂

Thanks for reading, everyone! Apologies for the cliff-hanger, but I do love a cliché!

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Headcanon; Sir Gareth

Despite Dynadan’s assurance that Gaheris was still honorable, Gareth hated all his brothers. No matter how honorable he was, Gaheris still killed their mother. In Gareth’s eyes, he was no better than the others, and this did hurt him, as they had become quite close over his time at Arthur’s court. 

But more than anything, the young knight was greatly troubled by Dynadan’s news of the brothers’ grudge against Lancelot. It was common knowledge that Gareth was one of Lancelot’s favorites, and Gareth feared his brothers would try to avenge themselves against the two of them by harming Lancelot or Lyonesse.

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Headcanon; Sir Gareth

Palomides saw how all the talk between Tristan and Dynadan about Gawain, Agravain, Modred, and Gaheris upset Gareth, and he insisted they stop talking about it.