Chapter Text
Summer is a weird passage of time. It stands between the spring and autumn. Between life and death. More brighter days that lead to everything that falls. But no twelve year old child would know this. Not just yet. They wouldn’t know for quite some time. For all they see, the summer was creeping in. And that was enough.
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Storming through the castle hallways was a young girl no more than twelve winters old. Dark brown locks and unusually bright blue eyes added to her ever sharp and fierce appearance. Even at such a young age , one could say that she’s not to be messed with. She was striding towards the training ground; fists clenched at her side; huffing in irritation. She didn’t see the boy who popped out from the corner of the hallway.
“Where’s this sorceress off to?” The boy asked with a hint of affection.
“Move away Gaius, I’m in a hurry”. She whined, clearly annoyed.
Ever the busy bee! Ha! Gaius chuckled to himself. He was five winters older than the girl; Nimueh. The only daughter of the Camelot’s court sorcerer and the high priestess. In his memory, she’s always been like this. Fierce; bold; smart; hotheaded; but extremely sweet and kind. Although she would say otherwise.
“Of course you are. But may I ask why?” Gaius asked , biting back his grin. He knew very well that the answer wasn't gonna be pleasant. But it was fun to see the little raven get angry. She reminded him of his own younger sister who’s only two years shy of Nimueh.
As expected, Nimueh groaned with annoyance. “Please move before I sacrifice you to the old gods!” She blurted out. Gaius gasped.
Her eyes widened with the surprise of her own words. As if to make amends, she instantly covered her mouth with her hands. She didn’t mean to say that. In fact, she didn’t even understand clearly what that meant. She only heard her mother say that sometimes when she’s angry. And it seemed to scare people.
Maybe it’s something bad. And maybe Gaius wouldn’t bother her anymore if she said that. Vegetable sellers at the market stopped selling rotten vegetables after mom said that. But then again, Gaius doesn’t sell vegetables, does he?
Gaius was a patient kid. Of course he was. Who else would sit through the physician’s ramblings of thirty five uses of henbane with unmatched enthusiasm? His mentor always appreciated that. So he waited until Nimueh pulled herself out of the current of thoughts. And as he expected, she broke out of her trance.
“I’m sorry Gaius! I’m s- so sorry!! I didn’t mean to say that!!” She blabbered out.
Gaius, ever the saint even for his young age, smiled warmly at her. “You know how and when to apologize. That’s a good start.” He patted her head affectionately. “Besides, it was kind of my fault to test your patience when you were clearly busy.” He added with a grin. She returned the grin, brightly.
“Sorry I’ve to go now, Gaius.” She said with an apologetic smile. “See you!!! Tell Alice that I will come to pick flowers with her later!!.” She added while running off to wherever she was headed before. When she left, Gaius was sure he heard her muttering “Uther,you are so over!” under her breath.
Gaius chuckled. It was fun to see the kids growing up. He paused. I think they are right. He thought to himself while grimacing when he recalled the time he said that to his mentor. To which he replied with “You know kid, sometimes I wonder if you’re actually an eighty year old man trapped in that child's body.” Gaius had to admit it. He definitely sounded like his grandfather sometimes. He started walking towards the apothecary, humming leisurely to himself.
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“OI YOU FOOLS!” A high pitched voice came from the sidelines of the training ground. Four heads snapped towards the voice in unison as they watched the suspiciously Nimueh shaped silhouette appear from the corridor.
“Oh.. what did you do this time?” A boy, seemingly the same age as Nim, looked over to another boy and asked. His voice bore a mixture of mirth, concern and curiosity.
“I didn't even have the chance to do anything, Balinor!!” The other boy replied in a loud whisper, with a dramatic shrug of his shoulders.
Balinor sighed as he brushed off his long brown locks from his forehead. “I’m sure you didn’t, Uther”
“I ACTUALLY DIDN’T- ow!!!” Uther was interrupted by a smack to his head from Nimueh. “What?!” He demanded. But it came out as a whine.
“You said you would join me on the etiquette lessons! And yet you sneaked out to play! AND I HAD TO SIT THROUGH THE LESSONS ALONE FOR TWO HOURS!” Nimueh shrieked. There came another smack to the head.
The other three boys were silently enjoying the scene. They were best of friends. Thick as thieves. The five of them were inseparable and the whole castle knew that. But what they also knew was that even the prince of Camelot couldn’t escape the wrath of their little sorceress. The other three, Balinor, Kadoc and Gorlois knew better than to interfere in their fights. In their eyes, if Nim was angry, Uther must’ve done something stupid.
“It’s alright Nim, you know how he is. Next time I’ll join the lessons with you.” Balinor said kindly while sparing a glare at Uther. “Now, if you all are in the mood, my father is calling for the dragons this evening. Shall we go and watch him?”
Regardless, Uther was grateful to his friend for the change of the topic. Otherwise who knows what Nim will do to him this time. Last time he was turned into a toad for a candlemark. Oh no no no!! I should be careful of the witch! Uther thought to himself.
Gorlois grinned as if he read Uther’s thoughts. “Still taste the flies huh?” Uther’s eyes snapped towards Gorlois. But Gorlois was no fool. He could see the embarrassment coloring Uther’s ears. “No more words!” Uther said. But this time he was giggling too.
Kadoc joined them right then, with a pile of wooden swords on his hands that they were using to play nights a few moments before the disaster. “Guess who’s joining the squires next month?” He asked, blowing his overgrown red curls from his face. Uther and Gorlois visibly groaned. “Kadoc.. for the hundredth time!!” They both shouted. Redhead started laughing out loud. “We know it’s you! Don’t remind us!” Gorlois continued whining which made Kadoc’s laughter grow louder. “Right, I know! I know! But don’t worry, you’ll be turning twelve in a few months too. It’s just that I’m the first to go!” Kadoc replied with a much sobered voice.
“Are you lot coming or not?” Balinor called out from a few paces ahead. Nimueh huffed while walking beside him. Balinor is the only one with a brain. She murmured. Balinor chuckled to himself. A few paces behind, Gorlois answered; “Yes! Yes! lead the way!”
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Watching the court dragonlord calling out for the dragons never ceased to amaze them. The battlement where they were standing was filled with Nim’s excited squeals and amused gasps from the boys. Balinor looked at his father, who was currently summoning the great dragon Kilgharrah and his mate Avalora, with pride beaming in his eyes while the dragons answered to their soul-brother’s command.
“You think I would look like that one day?” He asked his friends in a low voice.
“Huh?” Gorlois asked absentmindedly, still phased by the marvelous performance of Balinor’s father.
“I SAID; do you think I would look like that too one day when I grow up?” He asked again. This time a little irritated.
It was Uther who answered him. “Of course you will, Balinor. And of course we will.” His tone was regal. His smile was genuine. This was a promise from his best friend; his king. For what little they knew of the world, that was the bond they shared. Balinor smiled in return. And when they smiled, they both meant it.
Gorlois broke his reverie by tapping on his shoulder. “Huh?” Balinor asked dumbly.
Gorlois pointed to the horizon. A parade, seemingly royal, was approaching from the north.
“ah yes…” They heard Uther mutter. “What’s it? Where are they coming from?” It was Kadoc who asked. They all directed their attention to the parade.
“The royal house of Du Bois..” Nimueh murmured; just enough for the rest of them to hear. Then a bit loudly she added ; “I recognize the crest. It belongs to the royal house of Du Bois. I know because I was paying attention to my lessons unlike some others here.” The mirth and mockery in her voice was obvious.
Uther sighed dramatically. Oh god, she’s not letting this go that soon.
“But why are they here though?” Asked Balinor, still looking at the parade that was now close to the castle gates.
“uh..well.. they’ll be staying with us for the summer this year. And all the summers to come as well!” Uther groaned. Which meant they’ll have to befriend god-knows-how-awful foreign princes and princesses; which meant less time playing with each other and more time fulfilling their court duties; which meant not many chances to sneak out and dip in the nearby stream; which meant the summer was already as good as ruined.
A few paces away, a guard chuckled at the collective whines and huffs of these five. They all adored them. The adorable troublemakers.
“So why are they here again?” Nimueh asked, crossing her arms as the parade entered the citadel.
“..’M not sure..” Uther murmured. Kadoc looked at him. And for a split second he thought he saw Uther’s eyes lingering on one of the princesses. But he didn’t comment on that.