sixwordstories | (no subject)

[OOC: continued from here, with things floating about the room. Perhaps in relation to her concern.]

d'Artagnan does indeed wake up before Merlina does, his arm still around her, his nose in her hair. And it doesn't take long to realize that there are indeed things floating in the room. That's interesting. He blinks slowly.

Her question was whispered mostly to herself. Soon after he awoke, she was roused from sleep and it took her a belated second or two to blink and notice that there were things floating in the room. Immediately, after she became more alert, the objects clatter right back to where they were. She hadn't done that in a long time.

"Please say something," she whispered.

"Good morning ... " he offered, taking in how things were floating, then they weren't. "Did you sleep all right?"

Her heart was hammering in her chest as she awaited his response.

"I...I did. Better than I ever have, actually."

Merlina stayed where she was, a million scenarios running through her head. She'd camped with Arthur before. Been around other people when she was sleeping and no note of magical things happened other than when she was younger.

"Did you?"

"I did." Right. So, best to just address this elephant that is squatting in the room, yes?

d'Artagnan turned to look at Merlina, and she was beautiful in the light that streams in through the window. "Did you make those things float, Merlina?" he asked, voice quiet.

Where she had been relaxed the night before, Merlina was now a tight coil of fear. She didn't want to look at him, afraid of whatever disgust or hatred she may find there. Her voice was barely audible when she answered.

"Yes."

There was no hatred, no disgust. He caught her chin to turn her face toward his. "How did you do that?"

"Magic," she admitted.

This could mean her doom. Was this Morgana's plan all along? Send her to a land and time where there was no magic? Confess? Be executed?

Right. All right.

d'Artagnan needed to think this through, figure out how to progress. How to protect her. He sat up to face her. "Will you show me?"

She sat up too, afraid still of what he would say or do. His weapons were nearby after all, he was on the King's gu--

Show him?

Merlina looked at the slight, rumpled mess that was her bed. She hadn't slept in it but a whispered spell had the sheets and pillows righting themselves as if no one had even touched it.

That ... was remarkable. "Just by saying a few words, you can do that?"

She was a witch, he knew that was what Cardinal Richilieu would say. But Merlina was no witch; he was sure.

"Yes. Well. Not just...that. But that's one of the things I can do." Speak to dragons, fight off undead armies, that was a conversation for another day. d'Artagnan had told her, in not so many words, that those with magic were still being executed.

"You are .... " He looked at her, and took her cheek in his hand.

He kissed her.

Should he be afraid? Most likely. But he did seem to let his heart lead his head. Athos had been right.

She kissed him back. But Merlina pulled away and looked into his eyes.

"Please tell me what you're thinking."

"Well," he exhaled. "You need to be careful; make sure no one sees you do that sort of thing." He traced circles on her cheek with his thumb. "Nothing in public. I will do all I can to keep you safe, Merlina."

"You don't--you're not--" She finally was breathing again. "You're not going to turn me in?" Merlina knew she was an idiot for her mouth to follow that with, "Why?"

"If I turn you in, you'd be burned on a pyre." And he was quite sure he'd not countenance that well, even though they'd just met. "We will start for Albion."

Merlina kissed him again.

"Thank you," she whispered. "d'Artagnan, thank you."

Those kisses .... would it be so bad if they stayed here just a while longer? d'Artagnan sighed against her mouth.

One last one and he very reluctantly urged her to standing. "We should go. Before the city gets too lively."

She wanted to stay here too, in this little bubble they've created where the rest of the world wouldn't awaken and be so quick to take her to the fire. Another one of his kisses and she reached up to caress his cheeks.

But then they were standing and she nodded. They had to reach the shores to take her back to Albion soon.

But little do they know, the innkeeper's nephew, who'd been helping with the business had been outside their door early that morning. He had seen something float past their window in the room as he was going about his chores in the morning and quietly made his way up. Things had been floating in Monsieur's room. And when his lady friend admitted she was the one that made things float, he quickly ran off to find the cardinal.

When they were both dressed, d'Artagnan checked all of his weapons, then went for the door.

He opened it and stepped into the hall. When he looked toward the stairs, he heard something before he saw it. This way - ! A demon -! In my inn?!

Oh, damn.

He ducked back into the room and slammed the door, backed against it. "Go. The window. Now!"

Merlina gathered her things and was ready to leave when d'Artagnan slammed the door shut. before she could ask what happened, he told her to go to the window.

"Why? What's happening?" she asked, making her way to the window.

"Someone heard something," he muttered, drawing his musket, glad that he'd loaded it the night before, using his free hand to push open the window. He looked out.

A one story drop. It wasn't impossible. He looked to Merlina. Any moment, there would be pounding on the door. "Do you trust me?" he asked.

She looked out the window. A whole floor down. Already, there was pounding on the door and when d'Artagnan pulled out a strange looking thing, Merlin's concern skyrocketed.

Did she trust him?

"yes."

"Good."

He held out his hand. "Hold on to me and climb out the window. I'll help lower you down as much as I can, then you'll have to jump. Run to the north. The stable's there." They had a few seconds before the door was broken open.