England one-shot musing

[haruki-emishi.livejournal.com]

Title: Where did the Magic Go?
Author: haruki_emishi
Character(s): England
Rating: G (wow England isn't swearing up a storm!)
Warnings: Well if people do not like talking about religion....xD

 

Arthur sat in the captain's cabin on his grand vessel staring out into the Atlantic Ocean wistfully. His black hat was placed up on the table the feather blowing slightly from a draft in the room. He had been sitting up rather sleeplessly going over old letters he had received many moons ago. The ocean was being an outright cruel mistress a few days ago but he was happy to finally have an evening of calm seas. Recently he had received word of a new reform sweeping across much of Spain in the form of an inquisition of sorts. Supposedly the people have taken it upon themselves to kill Moors and Jews, and this is only due to the fact they did not practice the teachings of Catholicism.  Arthur had been around a long time and had seen many reforms of religious practices over his long life but, it never meant he agreed with any of it. The man himself had kept it hidden from many politicians he knew the sorts of things he indulged in when he had a moment to himself.

His practices had always been rather innately Pagan for the most part what with his spells, curses, talking to faeries, and other manner of magical creatures. Secretly he wished a lot of the Nations would wake up and make their people realize Catholicism is not the only way. That this religion has erupted a madness that has spread across the world like an infection. The source of this wound was centered in the Nation of Italy, within the Capital city of Rome which the Pope resided. England could only watch for the longest time as the Crusaders ripped through kingdoms and forced their ideals upon them. It was not uncommon for a warring Nation to do as such to another but, this was different from all the other times he had seen. There was something almost uncanny and sickening about the quickness of this conversion. The Romans who had been lovers of their Gods had suddenly turned their backs to them and believed in the one God. One God? The idea was rather preposterous to Arthur but he was not going to protest out loud in this day and age.

It almost broke his heart to be perfectly honest when people in his lands turned away as well. All the Faeries, Unicorns, Little People, Gods, they were all forgotten and suddenly branded rubbish. If someone did indeed still believe in their presence than that person was dragged away to be killed or converted. Arthur clenched his fist green eyes narrowing as he felt his temper rise a little at the thought. How many more of his own people would have to die all because of a belief system? How many more would need to perish because they were just living, and being peaceful? And if they were not being peaceful it was only because they were provoked by these Monks! Arthur had seen much of the world on his travels and came across Natives from lands that lived happily with their practices. The world had suddenly turned so black and white that he was disturbed by the swiftness of the change, and could only hope for people to open their eyes in years to come. Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, any of the above none of them were evil at all not in any sense.
  "I suppose no one is allowed to breathe anymore at this rate." He mused rather dryly and took a drink of is rum. Absentmindedly he played with a small gold trinket in his hands. He stared at the small charm dangling off of it and furrowed his brow a little bit  almost sadly. The world was going through a change so swiftly and so brutally that no one had time to even stop and take it in. Wars were raging for years and years at a time, and people were being displaced and killed all over. Kingdoms were becoming greedier by the day, and well not that he was really one to talk about that. The last person he talked to who shared his views on the matter was actually Norway. Mind you this was a few centuries back in the 1100's but, the young boy had claimed that the changes had not come so readily to his shores. They both had sat up for hours talking about what harm was going to come out of these radical new ideas, and everything they talked about played out in living color before Arthur's eyes.

It was sad really.


Getting up from his seat the man walked over to the window and sat the trinket down on the sill. He looked out across the moonlit ocean watching small orbs of light flicker by below. He smiled a little to himself and unlatched the window opening it a little and leaning out. Below him dancing upon the calm water were small blue women moving and conversing on the water's surface.
  "Good evening down there madams how are you?" He inquired but not too loud in case his crew heard him. The women looked up and a few dove back into the water but, a select few stayed above and giggled waving to him. One such fluttered up in front of him and curtsied.
  "We are doing well good sir just enjoying an evening out." She replied in a small but sweet voice. He held the palm of his hand out and allowed her to land in it. When she did he stepped into his cabin and sat down back at his table and let her walk about on top of it. She curiously picked up a small silver spoon and looked at her reflection in it and looked back at him.
  "You may keep that if you wish." He said with a small smile.
  "Thank you. You know I am so glad you can see us actually...we were all beginning to wonder." As she spoke her voice became sad and lonesome. Even though Faeries were particularly secretive by nature he would assume that the long years of being ignored would get to even them. Arthur nodded and reached over grabbing the remains of his dinner from not too long ago setting it before her. She nodded gratefully and started to carefully pick at the food in her tiny hands taking small bites.
  "What does everyone in your realm think of the change?" He inquired curiously.
  "Oh they hate it they really do! We all do to tell you the truth no one believes in us anymore and it's sad really. I used to love to get close to the shores and play with children. I cannot even do that anymore..." she sighed, "the forest spirits I have met along river bends feel the same way too." 
Arthur listened and took a bite of his food as well listening to her story intently. He remembered as a child himself playing with Forest Faeries by the rivers and brooks as a small child. The only difference was he could still see them now unlike many people he had come to know over the years. The Fairy took another bite and flapped her wings grabbing the spoon up and floating just a few inches above the table.
  "Thank you for your kindness and for it I shall reward you. I noticed your ship has been sailing rather in poor conditions as of late and you are due home are you not? I shall make the seas and winds favorable for your return." She gave him a warm smile and Arthur returned it taking her up in his hands again walking back to the window. The Fairy giggled and fluttered out his hands a little flying around his head for a moment fluttered by his face. She giggled again and swooped in gently to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before going out the window and back down to the ocean turning around to wave goodbye. Arthur touched his cheek a little and waved back to her before watching the mischievous Fairy go back into the ocean. Arthur retired back to his bed after that event feeling a lot more light of heart than he had before. Once he returned to his country he was going to take care of a few things. One of them being his mounting dismay towards Spain and he figured it was time to show the Armada what the English could do. Content with his plan he figured to elaborate more on it the next morning when he was less fatigued. Leaning it up he blew his candle out and crawled under his covers, relishing in the comfort of a bed before drifting off to his dreams.