Faux Paw

5

This chapter goes out to my friend Kittyhelp for being such a wonderful blessing to a hurting Canada muse of mine and subsequently helping me feel better.  Good RPers save character lives!

Once the horses had been put out to pasture and England had showered and dressed in proper clothes, Matthew left the stable and followed Arthur around as he watered his garden.  The flickers of motion that he’d always mistaken for dragonflies were indeed fairies, and in this form, he could see them.

They’re so lovely!  Canada exclaimed, poking his nose into a cluster of roses where a few of the shimmering Fae had gathered, a high-pitched whinny escaping his throat when they leapt off of the flowers and found various perches on his head and neck.

“They’re the same roses I always grow,” Arthur muttered in reply, unaware that he was no longer alone in the ability to see magical creatures.  Of course, when he glanced over and saw Canada’s gaze following the numerous fairies that were flitting about his head, attempting to braid his mane, Arthur nearly dropped the hose he was using.  “Y…you can see them?”

Yes, I can see them much better now that I’m a magical creature as well, Canada replied, peering over Arthur’s shoulder.  Who’s that?

Glancing in that direction, Arthur nodded to the creature floating just behind him.  “That’s Flying Mint Bunny.  Mint Bunny, this is Matthew,” he introduced the two, watching as the magical creature in question swooped over and found a comfortable perch on the small of Canada’s back.  He paused in the middle of uncoiling more hose, one furry brow rising slightly.  “Wait, did you say ‘much better’ just then?”

Matthew paused in the middle of nuzzling the green rabbit creature, ears pricking forward as he looked over at England and nodded.  It wasn’t so much that I could see them before…I saw…well, I always thought it was a trick of the light, or that I was just seeing dragonflies or shadows or things like that…

“Ah, I see,” Arthur murmured.  “Which is why you never said anything when people were treating me as if I were mad.”

I didn’t want…I didn’t want to step in and say I could see them too unless I was certain, Sir, Matthew said, a hurt expression on his face.  And you might not have noticed, but hardly anybody cares what I think or say anyway.  Would it even have mattered?

“I…”  England tightened his grip on the spray attachment for the hose, his shoulders slumping a little.  “It would ‘ave mattered to me,” he said softly, moving over to water the flowers near where Matthew was standing.  “To know that there was at least one person who didn’t believe I was completely insane, or going senile.”

Canada sighed, walking forward and dipping his head, rubbing his cheek against England’s upper back.  I’ve never thought that about you, England.

Arthur sighed, turning off the spray once he’d finished watering the roses, reaching out and patting Matthew’s shoulder.  “I know, lad.”

Canada watched sadly as England went and put the hose away, following him up to the back door of the house.  Where are you going?  I…I’m sorry if I upset you…

“You didn’t,” Arthur replied with a fond smile, turning and petting Canada’s nose reassuringly.  “I’m just going to go and grab a couple of spell books and a blanket to sit on, perhaps a cup of tea as well.  It’s a lovely day; I should like to sit outside and read.”

*

Settled in the shade of a towering old oak tree at the edge of England’s estate property, Arthur sat upon his blanket and pored through a spellbook as Matthew galloped around, frolicking with Percy and Flying Mint Bunny.  An odd feeling of sentimentality washed over him at the sight, and he suddenly had a terrible thought that it would be a shame to change Canada back to his human form, if only because he would lose the single solitary proof that the magical creatures he saw everywhere weren’t just figments of his imagination.

However, he knew it was the right thing to do.  And what’s more, if he and Matthew were to be lovers, it would be very awkward to have him staying in this form, wouldn’t it?

Getting up and stretching, Arthur wandered over to where Matthew and Percy seemed to be taking a break to drink from the pond, reaching out and patting Canada’s side.  “I’m going to go inside and make some lunch for m’self,” he informed the two unicorns, “I shouldn’t be too long.”

As afternoon wore on and Arthur continued reading, he was interrupted by Canada flopping down next to him and laying his head in the Englishman’s lap.

“Oi!  Go find a maiden or something, I’m trying to find a way to change you back here!”

The unicorn peered up at him, a grin curving his lips.  I thought that since there’s no possible way you’re a virgin, if I put my head in your lap it might reverse the natural order of the universe and change me back.

“Cheeky little bugger,” Arthur muttered, returning to his spellbook, simply balancing it on the top of Matthew’s head.  “I could go off you, you know.”

You love me too much, Canada replied, closing his eyes as he kept his head in Arthur’s lap.

After another hour of reading, England sighed and put the book aside, stroking Matthew’s mane.  “I ‘ave to stop or I’ll go cross-eyed.”

It’s all right, Canada soothed, ears flicking slightly.  It’s hard to believe I’ve been in this body for almost 24 hours…it feels like it’s only been one.

“Time is experienced differently by magical beings,” Arthur explained, his brow furrowing slightly when he felt a change beneath his fingertips.  “Er…Matthew?  I think you’re getting a bald patch here, were you rubbing against something?”

A moment later, Arthur made a startled noise and rolled away, gaping in shock at the creature that was now squealing and struggling on the blanket.  “Stay still!  It…it’s all right, just…don’t struggle, or you’ll hurt yourself,” he instructed, moving back in to place his hands against Canada’s sides, trying to calm and soothe him with gentle strokes of his hands against the rubbery flesh.

W…what happened?  I’m not human, what did I change into?

England tried to ignore the odd sinking feeling in his stomach, looking over at the pond Matthew and Percy had been drinking from earlier.  “God help me if I’m right,” he murmured softly, conjuring his wand out for a transportation spell, “but…I believe you’re a Boto…”