𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 𝕿𝖜𝖔
𝔖𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔶: From trolls to dragons to foreign princesses, Astraea Aphelion grows stronger as she
continues to navigate medieval Britain using her wit and heart, standing unshaken beside Merlin and Arthur as they face every threa...
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📍 Camelot
⏳October, 505 AD
Dallas and I reappeared in a field – the same place where Leo had 'parked' the time-machine when he went to get me – and, as I looked around, I figured that a spot underneath a lone beech tree that sits in the middle of the open valley is as good a place as any to bury the miniature time-machine. The spot will be inconspicuously marked by the tree, and it's close enough to the castle that I can get to it relatively quickly if the need ever arises.
So, after mentally patting myself on the back for my quick thinking in grabbing the shovel, I dug a hole in the ground as fast as I could using only my left arm; two metres away from the base of the tree, on its southern-facing side; and I placed the box inside before covering it back up.
Then I dug a second hole to the left of the first one and tossed the shovel inside so that I could get it easily in the future. Then I used a stick to help me put the dirt back in.
Sunrise was fast approaching by the time I was done burying my toys in the backyard, which made me realise that the task had taken me a bit longer than I'd anticipated. I wiped a bit of sweat away from my forehead and let out a sigh, feeling an uncomfortable strain in my only useful arm.
I whistled for Dallas, who'd been grazing around the whole time, and he instantly trotted over to me.
With one last look at the spot where the box was buried – which ensured that its resting place would be engraved into the deepest corners of my mind – I clumsily climbed onto my horse and we began making our way back to the castle.
Unlike the last time we time-travelled, I knew exactly which way home is, and no more than twenty minutes passed before we reached the citadel.
Only a few guards were out on their posts as the sunlight began to push away the cold October night. Oblivious to the drama surrounding my sudden departure, they let me past the gates with nothing more than a courteous, "Hello, Lady Astraea!" The friendly gesture felt like a warm hug from a loving grandma after I'd been reminded of the coldness of the twenty-first century, so I made sure to smile extra–sweetly as I greeted them back.
Knowing that it was unlikely that any of the people I'm dying to reunite with would be up yet, I busied my itching brain by giving Dallas a deep grooming – once he'd gotten over the excitement of being reunited with his herd mates, of course. I can't believe I was so selfish as to think it was okay to take him away from them.
As the sounds of life around gradually increased, a new wave of anxiety hit me and a lump formed in my throat as I continued to run the brush down Dallas's cream-coloured coat. I don't know what to say to my friends! Will they be mad?!
"You're lucky to be a horse, Dal," I mumbled as I let my forehead drop to his shoulder.
Arming myself with courage and a forced smile, I finally went inside the castle. I skidded to a stop when I reached the second storey as I wondered who to look for first: Gaius and Merlin down the corridor, or Arthur up another flight of stairs. I bit down on my bottom lip and sighed. I guess it's only logical to see my adoptive family first...
