An Enchanted Meeting(Merlin)

(October 15th. Closed to Verna/Fairy Godmother and Merlin so they can meet. I can change the date if i need to.)

Verna had been only back for a little while helping out the mash tents or helping get injured from the battlefield with her magic if they were too hurt to walk. She was now just walking around the camp for the moment as she wasn't needed in the mash tent at the moment. And there were several other medics to help if they were needed. And she was still in the camp if they needed the extra help. She heard while she was gone there had been another magical additions to their camp. Genie, a friend of Aladdin and Jasmine's, although he hadn't been seen much lately and Merlin a wizard. She would be interested in meeting them but had no idea what he looked like. She figured she'd run into one of them eventually.

For now she stood by the river taking a drink from it with a cup she'd brought with her. She also missed Cinderella and hoped she could find her soon. She had left the castle months ago she'd heard but still no one had heard of her. Perhaps she hadn't joined the war after all. It didn't occur to her at the moment Cinderella might have joined another army so she would just have to keep searching for her when she had the time to. If Cinderella had wanted her though she figured she'd have called for her by now. So Cinderella must be alright at least which gave her some comfort. She took another sip and just rested leaning against a nearby tree enjoying the peace and quiet for the moment.

Merlin had once again lost track of Arthur. But, he supposed that, with all of the Heroes around, there was little harm that could befall him in the camp. And, king or not, the boy was just that. A boy. So, the old wizard had decided to relax a bit, and spend some time reading.

He'd gathered up a couple of books, and headed down to the river. Once there, he scooped up some water into a tea kettle, and set it to boiling as he sat down under a tree. After a moment, he realized he wasn't alone. He looked up from his book, and peered through his glasses, blinking as he caught sight of a rather plump woman seated under a tree nearby.

"Good afternoon, madame," he said politely, tipping his hat to her. He could tell that she had some magic of her own, and unless he was mistaken, a considerable amount.

Verna turned seeing Merlin arrive and smiled. She could sense something magical about him. Perhaps he was the Merlin she'd heard about. Of course she wouldn't ask him about that. She might be wrong and he could just have a magical object that she could be sensing.

"Good afternoon. I'm Verna. A fairy godmother. I help out in the medical tent. I much prefer to help out than fight." said Verna.

She took another sip of water as she stood up and smiled.

"How are you doing today?" said Verna.

Merlin nodded. So, a fairy godmother, then. That explained her power, and it fit with her brief introduction.

"A worthy endeavor. My name is Merlin, and I am a wizard. And, like you, I prefer to help, rather than harm," he said. "And I am doing quite well, thank you."

He stood up as well, shrinking his book and tucking it into his robe. "And how about you?"

He couldn't help but return her smile. She had a calm way about her that really put him at ease.

Verna smiled at him.

"It's nice to meet you Merlin. I've heard about you from others around camp. It's nice to see other magical beings here." said Verna.

She smiled as he said he preferred to help as well.

"I'm glad to hear that. I know fighting is necessary in a war. Sometimes I wish I had the power to end this war or undo it. But I just help where I can. I just wish there wasn't so many children in this war on all the sides. Children shouldn't fighting. They should be playing, and learning." said Verna.

She sighed as her mind drifted back to Cinderella hoping she was ok when she heard his next question.

"I'm fine. Aside from missing my goddaughter Cinderella. She was a princess of her kingdom when I joined the war. When I went back to visit she was gone. Her husband had cheated on her. I heard rumors she'd gone off to join the war but I haven't found any sign of her. I hope she's alright." said Verna.

Merlin nodded again. That had been one of the reasons he'd initially refused to get involved. Children should never have been allowed to join the ranks of the Heroes. He sighed when Verna spoke about wanting to end the war, or undo it. He felt the same way. But, using his magic at its full potential to strike at the villains was a line he wasn't willing to cross. Especially since their were children amongst their ranks as well. Then he blinked as Verna mentioned her goddaughter.

"Cinderella, you say? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that name. And, really! What kind of husband cheats on his wife? Bah! It's disgraceful!" he huffed. "Well, I certainly hope she's alright. If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know."

Verna nodded sadly.

"Yes. I thought they would be so happy. When Cinderella's stepmother Lady Tremaine stole my wand and rewound time to undo their marriage and they still found their way to each other anyway I thought they were meant to be together. I guess I was wrong. I wish I had known sooner so I could have been there for her." said Verna.

She nodded listening to him.

"Believe me I had a few words for him. Of course I left after that. He was the prince after all and I didn't want to get into any trouble. I just can't believe he did that. She was so happy she found him. And now she's all alone. Her parents are dead. She grew up with her stepmother and stepsisters who treated her horribly for years. The only friends she had were the animals who lived around her house and me. I know I'll see her again one day. I just hope it's soon." said Verna.

She smiled as Merlin asked if there was anything he could do.

"Well perhaps you could help ask around for me. But part of me feels like she's not here. I hope this means she's not in the war and is just hiding out somewhere. I want to believe she's alive but there's so many graves here. And some are buried out there on the battlefield. I just hope she's not one of them." said Verna.

She paused wiping her tears. She had been more of a mother to cinderella in a short amount of time than Lady Tremaine had for years. She knew she wasn't Cinderella's real mother but she still cared for her as if she were her own. She hoped she'd see her again.

(ooc: wow this was longer than i expected it to be. xd)

Merlin listened, nodding in sympathy. He was rather glad he hadn't been the one to confront the charmless Prince. He'd have likely left the faithless jerk as a toad. He could understand why Verna was worried about Cinderella. After all she'd been through, the middle of a war was the last place she should have been. He pulled a handkerchief out of his sleeve, holding it out towards Verna.

"Well, I can say this. She's not buried here, and her name is not on the memorial stone in the graveyard. And I should know. I placed the stone there, myself. And I'll definitely ask around. Sooner or later, we'll find her."

One thing he didn't mention was the possibility that Cinderella was in Agrabah with the villains. Either as a prisoner, or voluntarily. There was no telling.

Verna smiled at him. He seemed easy to talk. He was a good listener and very sympathetic. She was sure she'd found a good friend today.

"Well I suppose it's a good she found out now than later. Still I wish I'd known about this before. Or been there to help her through it." said Verna.

She paused as Merlin handed her a hankerchief. She smiled gratefully and took it wiping the tears from her face as she handed it back to him.

"Thank you." said Verna.

When she heard that Cinderella wasn't buried here she sighed in relief.

"Then there's a greater chance she's alive out there somewhere. I'm glad to hear that. I'm sure I'll run into her eventually. But I just hope it's not too long until I see hera gain." said Verna.

She paused turning to him.

"Enough about me. How are you Merlin? You a court sorcerer somewhere? Or did you help others like you're doing now before the war?" said Verna.

Merlin had been caught a bit by surprise by the sudden change of subject. He blinked a couple of times, and adjusted his spectacles.

"Oh, well, no, I've never served as a court wizard. One big political mess if you ask me. No, I much prefer to teach people with great potential," Merlin said. He ran a hand down his long beard as he thought about his first meeting with Arthur, and his relationship with the boy. "In fact, he corrected himself, "I am sort of a court wizard, now. I've been teaching a young boy named Arthur on how to be a king, and to use his head for more than just a place to hang a hat."

As he spoke, he picked up his whistling tea kettle with his cane, and conjured a small table with a tea set on it, and looked up at Verna. "Would you care for some tea?"

Verna nodded listening to him.

"Yes. Helping royalty always has it downsides but the good people they are the ones worth helping." said Verna.

She paused as he mentioned he was a court wizard now in a way helping Arthur train on how to be king and how to use his head.

"Cinderella had help from some of the staff who gave her princess lessons and things like that so she would learn the proper culture. But she managed to do things her own way and things turned out alright int he end. But I suppose every kingdom is deifferent." said Verna.

He smiled seeing a tea kettle and nodded.

"Tea would be lovely. Thank you." said Verna.

She took a cup as she poured the tea into it setting the kettle back on the table. She took a sip and smiled.

"This is some of the best tea I've ever had. Perhaps I could get your recipe sometime." said Verna.

Merlin had been sipping at his own tea as he listened to Verna talk. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he'd last sat down and talked to someone on his level. She was a font of wisdom and intelligence, had a considerable amount of magical power, and was likely closer to his age than anyone else in the army. On top of that, she had been a caretaker of a young lady with a lot of potential, by the sound of things.

"Yes. Sadly, Arthur's kingdom is rife with ignorance and warmongery. Or at least it was. I was hoping he'd change all that, and it seemed to be working. But then this war broke out," the old wizard said, leaning back in the chair he'd conjured.

He took another sip of tea, then smiled. "Well, I'll have to see where I've got it written down. I know it's somewhere."

Verna smiled listening to him. She was having fun chatting with Merlin. He had a young boy he was teaching and he was skilled with magic as well. She hadn't really had someone to talk to like that in quite awhile. She hadn't spoken with the other fairy godmothers in awhile as they often had several godchildren they came to and were usually pretty busy. Most of her other godchildren were alright for the moment safe away from the war aside from Cinderella. She listened as he said things were starting to change that when this war broke uout.

"Perhaps when you and Arthur return you could keep doing what you were doing. Although depending on how long this war goes you might have to start over." Said Verna.

She smiled as he said he'd have to look up the recipe.

"No hurry. I know you have a lot on your mind. This is good though." said Verna.

She took another sip and smiled. She hoped they could get a chance to talk again like this soon. Not that she was planning on going yet but one of them was bound to be needed at some point.

Merlin leaned back and sighed, completely at ease. For the moment, even of it extended to just this riverbank, all was right with the world. He was sipping tea and talking to someone who could understand him in every way. He sincerely hoped he'd get the chance to have many more such conversations with Verna.

"Well, I'm glad you enjoy it. It only took me a few decades to get right," he chuckled. "And we'll certainly have our work cut out for us, but, often times, in the wake of a disaster, like this war for instance, that's a really good time to shine. After all, people will be looking for someone to help them get their lives back together."

And that was going to be the really hard part. War always left scars. Physical, mental, and emotional. and some of those scars would never heal fully.

Verna smiled at him.

"A few decades? Good think I didn't ask for coffee then. Might have taken longer." joked Verna.

She chuckled and took another sip. She didn't drink much coffee preferring tea anyway. But she didn't doubt it didn't take him along time to get this recipe right. It took a lot of time and planning and trial and error to perfect recipes.

"Yes. It may take some time but I'm sure the two of you will manage and the kingdom sounds better off already with their new king." said Verna.

She believed that. Although she wondered how her kingdom was dealing with the prince's wife running off. No doubt his family had spun it around so that she had left him or something. She still couldn't believe she had set him up with Cinderella. She hoped Cinderella found her happiness wherever she was.