Woods Outside Camelot and Beyond, Thursday Morning

[bitchprince]

Arthur did not think this was a good idea. Not in the slightest. In fact, Merlin had received a Stern Talking To or twenty about not bloody well using his magic in public and inviting more witches over. He had not forgotten about what happened the last time, and he had learned his lessons.

As such, he had absolutely no clue how Merlin had managed to talk him into letting his friend Tara turn up anyway. Privately, he was starting to suspect sorcery.

But it was time, now. So Arthur had made Merlin saddle up the horses, and they had ridden out the gate for a 'hunting trip' that would not be pleasurable in either sense of the word. Ridden out into the woods to the one safe spot where portals occasionally could come through, gotten off the horses, and waited. It was lovely weather now, being the dawn of summer, and Arthur would have enjoyed it in most other circumstances.

Still. At least it wasn't Karla.

[[ for a wizard and then a witch, please! ]]

Comments

[life_inshadow]

"I like that better," Tara said, then turned to Merlin apologetically. "Sorry. The kicked by a horse makes me sound, um, a little stupid."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"But it would explain why you don't know things too!" Merlin, let it go. It's never going to happen.

He sighed, shouldering the bag again. "You'll need to borrow a dress from Gwen to fit in."

[bitchprince]

"Dresses are Merlin's area of expertise," Arthur explained. Mockingly. It made him feel better about this, hush.

[life_inshadow]

Tara was just going to ignore the mocking.

"I guess my skirt isn't quite right," she said, glancing down at her (covered, but gauzily) legs. "Is Gwen my size? What's she like?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin was following Tara's lead on the ignoring. Because he was the mature one.

Really.

"Gwen? She's the nicest person you'll meet here," Merlin assured her. "And, if the dresses don't fit, she's a great seamstress."

[bitchprince]

"Right, I'll let you two chat like girls, then," Arthur said, trotting towards the horses.

Ignoring him. As if.

[life_inshadow]

"I am a girl," Tara pointed out. "What am I supposed to chat like?"

Her eyes were going soft as they got closer to the animals. She was one of those girls who got all gooey around horses, and she didn't get to ride very often.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"He's just upset he can't talk about swords," Merlin whispered loud enough for Arthur to catch. Because he was nice like that.

[bitchprince]

Arthur ignored him, as was only right, and grasped his horse by the reigns. Whatever, Merlin.

[life_inshadow]

Tara patted her horse on the nose, then hitched herself up and onto it with a certain degree of grace.

"I could talk about swords," she offered. "They're ... pointy, and you can poke things with them, and ... Kennedy really likes them."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Pointy," Merlin agreed. Because he was also an expert on these things.

[bitchprince]

"Have some respect for the art of the sword," Arthur said, hauling himself up onto his horse. "Especially since you can't even hold one up without falling over, Merlin."

[life_inshadow]

Tara gave Merlin a look over her shoulder, half sympathy and half is he always like this?, and tried for tact.

"Sorry if I sounded disrespectful," she said. "It's just ... not my thing. So, um, what have you guys been up to around here?"

It was a lame subject change, but it was the best she could do.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Don't let Arthur get to you, he's been spending far too much time growing that big head back," Merlin replied brightly. Because someone was never going to let Arthur get too full of himself if he could help it.

[life_inshadow]

"What, did it fall off?"

Tara had spent two years in Fandom. Many things were possible.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin paused. "No, he hasn't been cursed with that yet."

[life_inshadow]

"So there's at least one good thing going on," Tara said. "No falling-off heads."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I wouldn't put it past someone, though."

Oh, Camelot.

[life_inshadow]

"It is kind of a classic thing in stories about kings, right?" Tara said, a thoughtful smile sneaking over her face. She deepened her voice "'Off with his head!''"

Realizing how that might sound, she added, "Um. N-not that I think that happens a lot here, or anything."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin cleared his throat. "Of course not."

Other than when it did.

"It's not as horrible as he makes it sound here. It's just a bit more secrecy."

[life_inshadow]

"I figured you would have told me not to come if you really thought I was going to get myself killed," Tara shrugged biting on a lip. "And -- I mean, okay, so people aren't going to burn me at home, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to go into the grocery store and start throwing balls of energy around."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Plus, it might ruin the food."

[life_inshadow]

"They'd be all covered in explodey." And clearly that was bad. "Probably gooey, too."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Which would kill anyone's appetite," Merlin added. "Which is much worse than evil magic."

[life_inshadow]

Tara laughed in agreement, and rode on silently for a moment. Then:

"Is it hard for you?" she asked. "Keeping things hidden, I mean."