gilli_annTitle: The giveaway
Rating: G
Pairing/s: Arthur/Merlin implied
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: Dystopian dark times may be upon them, but one thing hasn't changed.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 250
Prompt: 112 - Sillage
Author's Notes: None
The giveaway
As soon as they entered the hideout, Merlin stopped short. Something was different.
Warily he looked around, scrutinizing their few pieces of furniture, the bare walls, the covered-up window. Nothing seemed out of place.
Nevertheless he suddenly knew. He instinctively readied a battle spell.
“They named the mirage phenomenon after Morgana, did you know?” he said, turning around with a frown on his face. "The Fata Morgana; shimmering with tempting promise when seen from a distance, but in reality a treacherous and lethal illusion, luring the unwary to their doom.”
“I never heard that. It's certainly been aptly named.”
“It's very strange that no-one made a special term for 'sillage' to remember her by instead. The scent she used was... memorable. Whether she was King Uther's beautiful ward or a witch in a woodland howel, she always left behind a subtle trail of that distinct fragrance of hers.”
“Howel?”
“Never mind that. My point is; whatever the circumstances, her perfume never changed.”
“Fresh and sweet like English roses, but with dark notes lingering underneath, a hint of something sultry. Incense, perhaps? Once upon a time I found it quite alluring. So did you.”
“Oh, hush.” Merlin shuddered. "But yes, that's the one. We'll have to move immediately and be more careful. Can't you smell it? It seems you're not the only one who has returned to fight the end-time battles.”
Arthur sniffed the chill air. He nodded, face grim. “Morgana. She's back too.”